By Charlene Macaulay
The Western Melbourne Group has already started sounding out potential recruits so that it can hit the ground running if it secures one of two new A-League licences on offer.
Western Melbourne Group’s director of football Steve Horvat said the consortium was already chatting to possible marquee player recruits to ensure the new club has a strong player base.
“They [marquee players] are the most difficult to secure.
“We already have a vision as to the make-up of our squad and will look to recruit accordingly.
“Along with high profile signings we want to ensure that players from the region and our National Premier League catchment area are given a trial and we will ensure that we promote the players from our region.”
Mr Horvat said the Western Melbourne Group has also commenced preliminary planning on the construction of Wyndham Stadium, and expects to turn soil on the project within 12 months of a decision being made.
He said construction of the stadium is expected to take 21 months, with the team expected to play its first home game in the opening round of the 2021-22 A-League season. In the interim, the group has identified a couple of reserves around Wyndham it can use as a temporary training base.
The Western Melbourne Group’s bid to set up a club in Tarneit as part of an expansion of the A-League is one of six remaining bids on the table, with a decision expected next month.
Wyndham council has worked with the Western Melbourne Group on the bid, which also has the support of Brimbank, Maribyrnong and Melton councils.
Earlier this month, FFA chief executive David Gallop, other FFA personnel and representatives from Deloitte were taken on a tour of key sites in Wyndham to see the area’s population growth first-hand.
