South Melbourne To Launch A-League Bid For Inclusion From Next Season

South Melbourne "will formally submit a bid for an A-League licence by the end of this month and is seeking inclusion in a revamped competition from next season," according to Matt Windley of the HERALD SUN. The club plans "to play all home games bar derbies at its 15,000-capacity Lakeside Stadium, where it expects to average crowds of more than 10,000 from season one." It would "concurrently launch a W-League side, retain its presence in the Victorian National Premier League and recruit a high-profile marquee player for the A-League team." South, which has established a four-person bid advisory board, "has the capital required for a licence fee," which is about A$5M ($3.8M). South’s advisory board is chaired by club Dir Bill Papastergiadis. It also contains the club’s women’s Football Dir Gabrielle Giuliano, former federal Sports Minister Andrew Thomson and bid investor Luisa Chen (HERALD SUN, 11/14).