A further Tasmanian bid willing to join the A-League would not be ruled out in the future, Football Federation Tasmania’s newest boss Matt Bulkeley said on Wednesday.
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FC Tasmania backed by one-time Melbourne Victory stakeholder Harry Stamoulis was one of 15 consortiums vying for a spot last month.
But the bid fell on deaf ears when it was one of five that failed to make the shortlist.
Bulkeley said should Football Federation Australia decide to expand past 12 clubs, a Tasmanian grassroots submission could enter the next round of expansion.
“Absolutely it would be great thing for Tasmania team to have an A-League team – there is no question about that, or at least a team in a national competition of sorts,” Bulkeley said.
“It was disappointing for the state and the football community that we missed out on going to the next phase.
“Obviously, that was a separate bid to Football Federation Tasmania and it had our support and another bid in the future would almost certainly have our support.
“It would be a great thing for the state, but we just have to work on the many priorities that we have and if that is an opportunity that arises in the future the board and the organisation will look at it.”
Football Federation Tasmania appointed Bulkeley last month, but he only took up the chief executive position on Monday.
He has since been busy inspecting playing venues, starting around Hobart.
Bulkeley plans to lobby governments for funds to upgrade the facilities amid his plans to stay in Tasmania indefinitely.
“I don't think that [facilities] have kept pace with our game and the speed of growth, and that’s an issue that football facilities’ infrastructure is not at a level they need to be,” he said.
“We are committed to make a change and a good amount of time to get things achieved with the support of the stakeholders.
“Some of the facilities can take multiple years to come to fruition and I want to see that through the journey.”
Bulkeley will make his first formal appearance in the role on Saturday, presenting the premiership trophy to the NPL Tasmania winners and attending its award night.
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
