We Don’t Need To Call Ourselves ‘Sydney’: Gino Marra

Macarthur South West Sydney chairman Gino Marra says there has been no directive from Football Federation Australia to include Sydney as part of the new A-League team’s name.

It was reported last week in the Sydney Morning Herald that Fox Sports were allegedly unhappy with the omission of the city of Melbourne in the naming of Western United.

The broadcaster reportedly threatened to withhold the $5 million bonus promised in the event of A-League expansion in Melbourne and Sydney.

But Mr Marra says there has been no such documentation outlining this requirement, nor has FFA lobbied to have the club include Sydney in its name.

“The FFA has never done that and at no time in any documentation that we’ve seen did it say we had to have either Sydney or Melbourne in the name,” Mr Marra said on Evenings on FNR.

“The FFA told us once we have a name we will workshop it to see what works in the community.

“They’ve never told us we need to have Sydney and if you speak to Lou [Sticca] he’ll say the name.”

Macarthur South West Sydney will hold the first of many forums this Thursday at the Campbelltown City council.

The forums will consist of discussion around the club’s philosophy as well as its colours, mascot and logo.

Mr Marra confirmed the club will look to announce its name and colours by June before starting their search for a head coach and group of players.

“We’re going to have up to six forums in total,” Mr Marra said.

‘We’ve had to move locations because the first one sold out only fits 200 people – we’ll announce that tomorrow there should be 700 people.

“It’s been crazy we’re nearly at 30,000 registered people on our database now and we expect this to grow.

“Wherever we go people are pumped – it’s very encouraging and it’s way above the metrics that forecasted.”

Macarthur South West Sydney will join the competition for the 2020/21 season where they will request an opening round match against the Western Sydney Wanderers.

“100 per cent we’re going to be asking for the Wanderers in Round One,” Mr Marra said.

“The Western Sydney derby will be the biggest one in town.”