Tassiemariner
Well-Known Member
Article in the local paper today makes for interesting reading when read between the lines
A-League games may kick off in Tasmania
TASMANIA could again host A-League games for premiership points in a plan that would be a slap in the face for Football Federation Tasmania and its top-flight partner Melbourne Victory.
An unlikely source looks set to bypass FFT and state league sponsors Melbourne Victory to secure at least one game in the state next season, a move that has blindsided the sport’s governing body.
Former FFT chief executive Richard Welsh, who left his position with Tasmanian football’s governing body last May, is now the head of his own company Epic Events and Marketing and has been approached by up to three A-League clubs in the past month.
While unable to divulge the two teams likely to come down for a season fixture in 2015-16, Welsh said they would be “East Coast-based” and that a fixture would likely be confirmed in a fortnight.
Welsh said he was in talks with clubs that did not have large home crowds and were looking to play at regional centres, including Tasmania.
“We’ve had some good talks with key stakeholders to get the best economic case and we’re almost ready to put together a very good proposal to a couple of clubs and those decisions could be completed in a couple of weeks,” he said.
Welsh said he had had discussions with Launceston’s Aurora Stadium and Hobart’s Blundstone Arena and North Hobart Oval in selecting a suitable venue.
Scaffolding for cameras and better lighting would be needed to make North Hobart TV ready.
“All venues have their advantages but things we need to consider are whether the grounds are television ready,” Welsh said.
Victory, sponsors of Tasmania’s Victory League, has not played for points in Tasmania since January 2013 when it met Central Coast Mariners at Aurora Stadium – the last game for points in the state.
Victory is unlikely to be in the mix as it will play one game a season for the next three years at Geelong’s Simonds Stadium, as revealed last June.
FFT chief Mike Palmer said the organisation was unaware of the situation but would continue to work with Victory to bring games to the state.
“This hasn’t gone through the normal channels and would need sanctioning from the game’s governing bodies [FFT and FFA],” Palmer said.
Welsh said he had “the skill set required” to bring a game to the state without FFT’s help but accepted that later down the track the governing body would need to come on board.
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East Coast team that did not have large home crowds. That does narrow the field down to us and Melbourne City. Melbourne City is a possibility as the head of media is a Tasmanian. But one can hope.
A-League games may kick off in Tasmania
TASMANIA could again host A-League games for premiership points in a plan that would be a slap in the face for Football Federation Tasmania and its top-flight partner Melbourne Victory.
An unlikely source looks set to bypass FFT and state league sponsors Melbourne Victory to secure at least one game in the state next season, a move that has blindsided the sport’s governing body.
Former FFT chief executive Richard Welsh, who left his position with Tasmanian football’s governing body last May, is now the head of his own company Epic Events and Marketing and has been approached by up to three A-League clubs in the past month.
While unable to divulge the two teams likely to come down for a season fixture in 2015-16, Welsh said they would be “East Coast-based” and that a fixture would likely be confirmed in a fortnight.
Welsh said he was in talks with clubs that did not have large home crowds and were looking to play at regional centres, including Tasmania.
“We’ve had some good talks with key stakeholders to get the best economic case and we’re almost ready to put together a very good proposal to a couple of clubs and those decisions could be completed in a couple of weeks,” he said.
Welsh said he had had discussions with Launceston’s Aurora Stadium and Hobart’s Blundstone Arena and North Hobart Oval in selecting a suitable venue.
Scaffolding for cameras and better lighting would be needed to make North Hobart TV ready.
“All venues have their advantages but things we need to consider are whether the grounds are television ready,” Welsh said.
Victory, sponsors of Tasmania’s Victory League, has not played for points in Tasmania since January 2013 when it met Central Coast Mariners at Aurora Stadium – the last game for points in the state.
Victory is unlikely to be in the mix as it will play one game a season for the next three years at Geelong’s Simonds Stadium, as revealed last June.
FFT chief Mike Palmer said the organisation was unaware of the situation but would continue to work with Victory to bring games to the state.
“This hasn’t gone through the normal channels and would need sanctioning from the game’s governing bodies [FFT and FFA],” Palmer said.
Welsh said he had “the skill set required” to bring a game to the state without FFT’s help but accepted that later down the track the governing body would need to come on board.
--
East Coast team that did not have large home crowds. That does narrow the field down to us and Melbourne City. Melbourne City is a possibility as the head of media is a Tasmanian. But one can hope.
