New APL club keen to work with others next season
WESTERN Pride FC chairman Kym Wickstein welcomed a meeting with representatives from Ipswich City Council, Ipswich Rugby League and Ipswich Jets to solve likely scheduling and shared facility issues next season.
While appreciative of council's support, Wickstein said the new Pride entity needed a home base for matches.
"Ideally we suggested IRL, Jets and IJRL play out of North Ipswich Reserve, and Pride adopt Briggs Road as our home," Wickstein said.
"But there would need to be work done on the (Briggs Rd complex) pitch and extra change rooms."
Wickstein said Pride were happy to work with council on managing facilities for next year's inaugural Australian Premier League state competition.
The Pride will be like the Jets - playing teams from around the state in Ipswich.
Wickstein offered other key issues to discuss in ground sharing arrangements, including:
How any damage to the field from rugby league games would be repaired for soccer matches, especially after rain.
How the field will cope during the winter months when grass does not grow?
How fridges, food utensils and cooking equipment can be shared on the same weekend so that the rugby league and soccer clubs can retain their independent revenue sources at North Ipswich Reserve.
"One alternative would be for someone to manage the venue and provide bar and canteen facilities," Wickstein said.
"(But) this would mean lost revenue for both Jets and Pride, something that we will rely on for income and funding."
Wickstein said a meeting of key parties was essential to ensure the region's elite sports teams could work out their "rights and responsibilities" before next season.
