The financial crisis could help bring top-flight soccer to the capital, according to Canberra A-League bid leader Ivan Slavich. Canberra is bidding for a place in the 2010-11 A-League season against the NSW South Coast, western Sydney and Tasmania. But the downturn is making it hard for bidding clubs to pin down investors.
Established clubs Brisbane and Adelaide are also struggling, with the Roar needing help with operating costs and the Reds struggling to find sponsors.
Despite this the A-League says it will not slow down its aggressive plans for expansion. Slavich believes the situation will play into the hands of Canberra as the A-League bid has the support of the ACT Government to the tune of $2.5million.''I don't think the other bids have got the same Government support as we do and it certainly does differentiate us from the other bids,'' Slavich said.
''The current economic climate does make it harder to attract and obtain the investor funding and I think the Government commitment and funding is more important than ever because of that. I believe having the Government support assists us more than anything.''Minister for Sport Andrew Barr said the ACT Government was committed to supporting the Canberra A-League bid, despite it not appearing in the 2009-10 Budget unveiled yesterday.
For more, pick up a copy of today’s Canberra Times.
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