Socceroo Tim Cahill has repeated his vow to start a football academy in Wollongong - and his support for the South Coast A-League bid.The 28-year-old yesterday confirmed the first Tim Cahill Football Academy would be established at Wollongong PCYC in the next six to 12 months and declared that playing for a South Coast-based A-League team was also a possibility in the future.Cahill, who plays for Everton in the English Premier League, believes the South Coast's inclusion in the A-League is "only a matter of time", but will establish the Wollongong academy regardless.His endorsement of the Wollongong-based bid came the day after South Coast Football Club announced a partnership with the PCYC that is believed would cut the team's annual budget by $2 million per year.Cahill also said he would consider playing for a Wollongong-based A-League side once his days in Europe were over. "Absolutely. Why wouldn't I?" he said. "There is a very good case for an A-League team on the South Coast and from what I know, there has been a lot of work that has gone into the development of the bid and I think it's only a matter of time." South Coast is one of four regions - including Melbourne, Canberra and western Sydney - competing for a spot in the next wave of A-League expansion, expected in 2010-11. Cahill chose the South Coast over other cities as the cradle of his academy because of the region's footballing pedigree. "The timing will depend on when we believe we have developed the most professional and the highest quality academy," Cahill said."Realistically it could take six to twelve months, but if all goes to plan then they may well start earlier."You only have to see the players that have come out of the region and have gone on to play at the highest levels in Australia and overseas and for the Socceroos that it is such a strong football community." Cahill is also impressed by the push to unify football on the South Coast."I have been in close contact with (South Coast Football Club deputy chairman) Bill Drossos and he has kept me informed on the progress of unification," Cahill said. "This and the quality of the work going on with the South Coast A-League bid would provide the best platform to establish the highest quality academy."The academy will offer scholarships, lifestyle, educational and football courses and the chance for kids to tour overseas. He was inspired to start an academy by his own struggles as an emerging footballer. "My parents sacrificed almost everything to give me the opportunity to be successful and if I can make the pathway either to professional football or a better life off the streets easier, then this is a big motivation for what I am doing."