The Canberra A-League bid have secured a multi-million dollar deal from the ACT government, just hours before they submit their final proposal to Football Federation Australia.
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It is understood the government have pledged between one and two million dollars on a multi-year deal if Canberra are one of two teams added to the A-League on October 31.
It's a huge result for the Canberra bid, who have been plodding along since teams were shortlisted on June 29 and are emerging as the dark horse against their eight big-city rivals.
All bids will be be submitted on Friday and the key aspects of Canberra's will be:
- A lucrative funding deal with the government and significant support from the Canberra business community.
- A "50 plus one" ownership model which will see members retain overall control of operations. They already have 7000 members.
- AFC Wimbledon, the most successful fan-owned club in the United Kingdom, chief operating officer Joe Palmer has joined Canberra's advisory board.
- Famed youth coach and former Socceroos interim boss Ron Smith has signed as the club's head of football.
- An existing stadium that has no other content for summer. Most bids do not have a stadium.
The ACT Brumbies and Canberra Raiders receive approximately $150,000 per home game and it is understood the government will match that for an A-League team.
ACT sports minister Yvette Berry threw her support behind the bid and said if they're successful she would like to see them align with W-League side Canberra United.
"They've done a great job engaging the community, they've got a whole bunch of people who are interested in an A-League [team] being formed in the ACT," Berry said.
"They haven't got a paid membership model yet, but they've asked people to sign up to show their support.
"They've been doing a lot of work to try to get some sort of commercial support and financial support as well from large organisations.
"We've been guiding them about what's reasonable and what's possible from the government's perspective.
"We'll see how they go with the bid. What I would like to see is the women's league continue to grow and any future arrangement with a men's premier team, that it includes some really good support for the women's league as well. That would be a great outcome for Canberra, if not this time, next time."
The ACT soccer community was burnt 10 years ago when the FFA rejected a highly competent bid led by businessman Ivan Slavich.
But the current bid has done an excellent job ensuring Canberra fans weren't once bitten twice shy, generating a groundswell of support from prospective members and local business.
Bid leader Michael Caggiano remains in talks to link with a European club, and believes if he can seal the deal then Canberra will be irresistible to the FFA.
The two expansion clubs added in October will have one year to field a team and then join the A-League for the 2019-20 season.
