AN A-League trial match in Wagga later this year could be back on the agenda as Sydney FC's participation in the Asian Champion's League becomes more unlikely by the day.
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Last year Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets played a W-League trial at Equex Centre, the start of a planned arrangement between the two clubs where an A-League and W-League practice match would be alternated between Wagga and Dubbo each year.
It was put on the backburner this year due to Sydney FC's involvement in the Champion's League, with group fixtures due to get underway at Qatar in mid-November.
But health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, with Qatar recording 200-300 new cases per day, plus the fact teams would have to quarantine for two weeks upon their return to Australia at a cost of around $450,000 means three A-League are reluctant to travel.
Should that be the case, Sydney FC coach Steve Corica will be scrambling to organise high quality pre-season games to compensate as preparation for their A-League championship defence.
Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend said Jets counterpart Lawrie McKinna had contacted him on Wednesday on the prospect of the country games, dubbed the Kennard's Hire Cup, now being reinstated this year.
Tamworth has also expressed interest in being a part of the scheduling.
"We hadn't made any plans because we anticipated we would be in Qatar. Now it is looking like there's a good chance we won't be going to Qatar," Townsend said.
Lawrie McKinna rang me about it and my response was that if we're not going then yes, let's explore it. A decision (on Qatar) will have to made in the next week,
"If we don't go, we've got a six-week window (before A-League season starts) and Steve (Corica, coach) is going to need to fill that window with pre-season games.
"For now it's a watching brief. Once we get some clarity and if we don't go, we can kick into gear with something that may work with that."
Sydney FC beat Newcastle 2-1 in last year's Wagga W-League trial, which was played in torrential rain and attracted just over 1000 fans.
Townsend said the club is committed to improving their footprint in regional NSW and plan to feature in Wagga regularly.
"There's no point doing it once and walking away, it doesn't really serve a purpose. We need continual engagement to drive our league in those parts of NSW," he said.
"We were rapt (with last year), the players enjoyed it. Professional football can sometimes be a bit mundane doing pre season and playing in the same places."
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