I can exclusively reveal the huge news coming out of Melbourne Victory… a consortium consisting of South Melbourne Football Club, Oakleigh Cannons Football Club and Northcote City Hercules Football Club, backed by several prominent local business men, including at least one existing board member at Victory, will launch a take-over bid for the A-League’s largest club.
Following the take-over, Harry Kewell will be jettisoned from the club after a season of disappointment, to be replaced by new marquee star, Angelos Charisteas – the never to be forgotten scorer of the winning goal in Euro 2004. Melbourne raised Apo Giannou will join from PAOK on a season long loan as Aussie marquee with Archie Thompson departing for Asia.
Jim Magilton’s contract will not be renewed, with his position being taken by former South Melbourne star Joe Palatsides, who has served his coaching apprenticeship in the lower leagues in Greece. Palatsides looks set to remodel his squad with Kemp, Vargas, Pondeljak and Brebner all departing, likely to be replaced by Steve Pantelidis, Dimitri Petratos, Lucas Pantelis and Billy Konstantidis, and import Fabio being replaced by my cousin Niko.
It’s also likely that Michael Theoklitos will return to Victory with Ante Covic heading up to Brisbane Roar.
In a move to create a greater sense of identification between club and supporters, and to create a point of differentiation between Victory and their neighbours Heart who are based in the north of Melbourne, the club will also add a new geographical denominator to their name.
After seven seasons in dark blue, the club will also have a revamp of its colour scheme – with a lighter shade being favoured by the new board – and the new look Victory will also undergo a slight name-change – after failing to live up to their name this year, the Victory brand will be dropped and naming rights to be sold off, with the new Australian division of European freight haulage company Hellas Europe already in negotiations.
So, that’s South Melbourne Hellas, playing in light blue, fielding some of the finest talent to come out of our community. I can’t wait… But I suspect I’ll have to. A man can dream.
You can follow my further delusional rants on Twitter, @JimSpiropoulos
