It is the joint bid that could "dramatically alter the dynamics" in the battle for one of the two spots in an expanded A-League for the '19-20 season, according to Ray Gatt of THE AUSTRALIAN. In a move that had been "in the pipeline for some time," the United for Macarthur and South West Sydney groups announced that they "joined forces to form a united front." The bid gives it access to 24,000 registered male and female players, over 70 clubs and 3,600 National Premier League players. The two franchises originally intended to be standalone bids and had been named by Football Federation Australia on a short list of 10 candidates earlier this year. Given the merger, which does not yet have a working name, that list is now down to nine, with FFA "expected to name the two successful bids by the end of October." The other contenders are Canberra, Wollongong, Team 11, Western Melbourne Group, South Melbourne, Brisbane City, Western Pride and Southern Expansion. Southern Expansion is "regarded as the frontrunner" for the NSW spot but that is "likely to change" with the decision by the two southwest Sydney bids to merge (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/21). In Sydney, Emma Kemp reported it is understood billionaire property developer Lang Walker, who already "pledged to financially back the Macarthur bid," will transfer his support to the merger, which hopes to become Sydney’s third A-League club alongside Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers. The team’s name and colors "will be decided after consultation with the local community next month" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/20).
