SA Footy

Extract from The Australian...TODAY
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 22,00.html


THE future of A-League runner-up Adelaide United is in doubt.
Football Federation Australia may be forced to take control of the club after its owners admitted today they were looking for new investors.

It's understood owners Bianco Constructions are experiencing difficulties and may be forced to hand in their A-League licence.

Should they hand control of the club to the sport's governing body it would create a frantic search for a new owner.

It's a massive fall from grace for the club which was the feelgood story of the season reaching the final of the Asian Champions League as well as the A-League grand final.

The players and staff are in limbo.

MY GOD....

How can we help...!

Or should we leave it at a Piss Ant Town.....

How can we help BIANCO...?

This was news a month or so ago. If worse comes to worse the FFA will take over the license. Adelaide will NOT be left without an A-League team.

Maybe Con Makris will takeover.

Adelaide Now Update
27/03/09 5.36pm

EXCLUSIVE: Adelaide United owner Nick Bianco has quashed rumours that the A-League club will fold because of financial problems.

The respected Adelaide businessman said there was no change in status with his relationship with United and he had not handed back the franchise to Football Federation Australia.

"I don't know where these rumours are coming from. Nothing has changed," said Bianco.

"It is known we have been looking for other investors but are happy at the moment."

Internet reports today suggested that FFA faced a frantic search to replace Bianco Constructions as owners of Adelaide United.

However an FFA spokesperson has told AdelaideNow that Bianco "had not" handed the club licence back to the governning body.

Bianco and the FFA have already held meeting where the wealthy businessman has indicated he would like to reduce his financial contribution to the Reds.

all i can say is in the South Australian Amatuer Soccer League the Knockout Cup has been sponsered by Bianco the last couple of years.. This year he cant pay the money yet the league is keeping the sponsered name....

My initial thoughts on the A League ring true. It's all very well for a comp to get going and ride on the back of 'new' supporters, sponsorship and the like, but is it sustainable? This goes for any new competition/organisation in this environment. The key is 'sustainability' and in my opinion the A League isn't and wont be. We're seeing it with the NBL currently where teams are struggling or changing hands/names and ownership frequently.

Just my thoughts.

gadj1976 wrote:My initial thoughts on the A League ring true. It's all very well for a comp to get going and ride on the back of 'new' supporters, sponsorship and the like, but is it sustainable? This goes for any new competition/organisation in this environment. The key is 'sustainability' and in my opinion the A League isn't and wont be. We're seeing it with the NBL currently where teams are struggling or changing hands/names and ownership frequently.

Just my thoughts.

When you have a bloke like Mr Westfield running it, he'll make it succeed. Considering they are bringing in two teams that are financial for next season, and that Soccer is the world game, there will always be money around to support it.

If United got to keep ALL of their money they won in Asia they'd probably be sitting OK...

Gadj makes a very good point though Jabber...

Bball and soccer aren't the only ones struggling. This is a small country.
When you think that one half of the country is consumed by Aussie rules and the other half two rugby codes, it's going to be tough for any other sport.

I hope soccer can survive but we shouldn't just dismiss concerns just because we have Mr Westfield. There were plenty of Mr Westfields who lost money in the past year and there will be more to come.

Fox sports news just reported that they cannot find a buyer for the franchise and they may have to hand the licence back to the FFA

Last month coach Aurelio Vidmar became embroiled in controversy when he attacked the club and the city of Adelaide in a sensational post-match press conference after the club's 4-0 major preliminary final loss to Melbourne Victory.

Vidmar said the club was imploding with politics and described Adelaide as a “pissant town”.

He late apologised to the team's owners and the Reds managed to qualify for the A-League grand final which they lost to Melbourne 1-0.


Meanwhile, I took the above from the Fox Sports website article which started the same way as the original post, and then had this on the end of it! WTF has this got to do with anything? Are they going to bring it up every time a story on Adelaide United is done?

The Jack wrote:Last month coach Aurelio Vidmar became embroiled in controversy when he attacked the club and the city of Adelaide in a sensational post-match press conference after the club's 4-0 major preliminary final loss to Melbourne Victory.

Vidmar said the club was imploding with politics and described Adelaide as a “pissant town”.

He late apologised to the team's owners and the Reds managed to qualify for the A-League grand final which they lost to Melbourne 1-0.


Meanwhile, I took the above from the Fox Sports website article which started the same way as the original post, and then had this on the end of it! WTF has this got to do with anything? Are they going to bring it up every time a story on Adelaide United is done?

dont forget most of Fox sports is probably ran from Melbourne and if thats the case as we know the Mexicans from VIC like to rub things in

Bianco is only looking to sell 49% of the club to ease the financial costs. He looking for numerous owners mybe looking at building new stadium for 200 million or looking to buy hindmarsh and maybe sell it when United got a lot money to go some where else.

I wouldnt mind seeing 49% of the license get picked up by a major overseas backer with plenty of $$$ to spend. The Reds are going to need all the help they can get to make it anywhere in the ACL this time around with them virtually starting the line-up from scratch after this season's departure-fest.

Well it's happened Bianco has handed in the license to the FFA, so we as of now do not have a owner.

The FFA have told Adelaide that they can fulfil the salary cap and it's all system go. Hopefully a new owner comes
on board.

Anyone have a number for a rich Sheik in the UAE ?

Is Bianco a major sponsor now for AU as he could not risk another loss this year which would put his company in distress.

Killa wrote:Is Bianco a major sponsor now for AU as he could not risk another loss this year which would put his company in distress.

He's said he'll continue as a sponsor, supporter and corporate box partner......

Reading between the lines IMHO I think Nick is in more trouble than he is letting on

tight economic times means cutting back on 'bleeding' or ongoing costs that aren't potential money makers. I can understand Bianco looking after his own company. At the end of the day, if Bianco's goes under but he keeps AUnited, FFA wont look after him. He's got to look after no1.

gadj1976 wrote:tight economic times means cutting back on 'bleeding' or ongoing costs that aren't potential money makers. I can understand Bianco looking after his own company. At the end of the day, if Bianco's goes under but he keeps AUnited, FFA wont look after him. He's got to look after no1.

that's what I am referring to if they were travelling nicely they would be able to ride it out as is but it looks like it has got a bit rough and obviously the biggest money spender is the first to go as not to bleed the whole operation dry