Western Sydney Wanderers team celebrates with the Premiers Plate Picture: Porteous Gregg Source: The Daily Telegraph
FOOTBALL chiefs hope to cash in on the success of the A-League and the Socceroos' qualification for Brazil by fast-tracking the sale of Western Sydney Wanderers before next season.
Having appointed investment bankers to find a private buyer for the nascent club, Football Federation Australia believes it's possible the deal can be executed within the next three and a half months - before the new season begins on October 11.
Though the timetable is likely to open FFA to accusations of rushing the sale, there is a genuine belief that the success of the club's first season has fast-tracked the degree to which it is embedded in the western Sydney community. Investment bank UBS was appointed recently to oversee the sale, with expectations of achieving a price of some $15m, though several industry figures have warned that be unrealistic.
The detail of the sale will raise several issues, most notably the fate of the balance of $5m the federal government gave to FFA to establish the team, under the catch-all justification of improving the game's grassroots in the region.
There would also be decisions on the existing board of directors, including executive chairman Lyall Gorman, though the current management would be seen as an asset after the way the club was established in six months from its launch in April last year.
FFA CEO David Gallop confirmed that selling the club was a priority, adding: "In terms of the long-term positioning of the A-League, FFA doesn't want to be a club owner and the sooner we move forward the better in relation to that. Equally we'll be prudent about how and to whom we sell the club.
"We've engaged UBS to assist us with going to market, and while there isn't a specific timeframe clearly the unprecedented and quite extraordinary success of the Wanderers' first season means we're keen to investigate the options.
"It wouldn't be overstating it to say they're the sporting club with the most potential in the whole country, and their connection with the Western Sydney community makes them a compelling proposition."
It's understood the club will record a loss of $1m to $1.5m from its first year, funded by the government money.
The fact that the Wanderers will play in next season's Asian Champions League is seen as a potential boon for the right company with exposure to the continent, despite the fact competing is a costly exercise unless a team is successful.
Western Sydney Wanderers have established a strong fan base. Picture: Gregg Porteous
Unlike the Champions League in Europe, where teams receive millions of dollars simply for taking part, the prize money in the ACL is tied to winning games.
Australian clubs estimate that ACL participation can cost some $300,000.
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