Overlooked Pride want a guarantee

WESTERN Pride officials will ask Football Federation Australia for a guarantee that the Ipswich-based club’s bid for eventual entry into an expanded A-League will be accepted to ensure overseas investors maintain their involvement.

Pride and Wollongong were yesterday axed from the current expansion race, with FFA cutting the list – now without Queensland representation – from eight to six.

Pride general manager Pat Boyle, while disappointed with the decision, vowed to fight on.

“It’s business as usual,” Boyle said.

“FFA will look to expand again and we want to be part of that. We’ll gain feedback about our current application and know what we need to improve.

“FFA told us they want another Queensland team in the A-League, and we want that team to be us.”

Boyle said the Pride’s foreign investors remained committed to the expansion cause provided FFA provided them with a written commitment that the club would be admitted when the A-League further expanded.

“It would give our entity and our financial investors peace of mind,” he said.

The six remaining bids are Southern Expansion (NSW), Macarthur South West Sydney (NSW), Western Melbourne (VIC), Team 11 (VIC), South Melbourne (VIC) and Canberra (ACT).