A-League: Extension talks underway for Western United and Tasmania

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propertyHome/Sport/A-LeagueA-League: Extension talks underway for Western United and TasmaniaBy Josh PartridgeUpdated April 15 2022 - 9:10pm, first published April 14 2022 - 12:10pmBy Josh

PartridgeUpdated April 15 2022 - 9:10pm, first published April 14 2022 - 12:10pmFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyUnited front: Western United chief executive Chris Pehlivanis with former

Premier Peter Gutwein last year. Picture: Phillip Biggs Western United chief executive Chris Pehlivanis is hoping his club can extend the ongoing partnership after building a solid Tasmanian

membership base last year.

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50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other regional websites in your areaContinue In the final year of its

two-year contract, Pehlivanis underwent "fruitful" discussions with former Premier Peter Gutwein and wants to stay in the state for the next two years, if not longer.

"It's another strong football market, there are a lot of kids that play football in Tasmania and the ability to bring A-League football to town is something that we are really proud of,"

Pehlivanis said.

"The support and the passion of the supporters is something that we love.

"We've got two really big games coming up this weekend and on Tuesday and we're hoping that they come down and support and really show how strong Tasmania is as a football state."

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With United only in their third year of existence, the club's leader stressed how important the partnership is to one of the A-League's newest entities.

"Tasmania gives us the opportunity to grow our fanbase, it gives us an opportunity to tap into some local talent and more importantly it gives us the opportunity to grow football and boys

and girls playing in another area which is really what we do this for," he said.

"At the end of the day, if we can increase participation in kids playing sport, that's a win-win for everyone."

United strengthened their Tasmanian pathway earlier this season, with five South Hobart players joining the club's NPL 3 under-21s squad for training sessions in January.

Sam Berezanski, Jacob Lancaster, Joshua Divin, Michael Hurd and Alex Brown all traveled to Victoria for the experience, with Pehlivanis describing it as "only the start".

Once the air finally clears around COVID-19, he's eager to get more clinics and even Tasmanian scouting going for the A-League sides - with Western United's women's team joining the

competition next year.

"It gives those boys and girls in Tasmania to have a real connection with an A-League club," he said.

"We are excited that we can give kids in Tasmania an opportunity and a pathway to play at the elite level and that's really what we are doing it for."

Eight hundred Tasmanians signed up for Western United memberships last season and the club is hoping that getting strong crowds to this Easter visit could see that number rise in the coming

years.

"If we could ultimately build a member base from Tassie that goes in excess of 3000, that would be our goal over the next expansion of this arrangement and partnership we've got with the

Tasmanian Government and Football Tasmania, who both have been an amazing support of our club," he said.

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"Their willingness to work together and do some things has been fantastic."

While his players have a fantastic record at UTAS Stadium, Pehlivanis has forged a strong relationship with Tasmania and has loved seeing what the state has to offer.

"Last time we had a really good time, my family came along and when I said we are coming there for another week, they all booked straight away and they're all coming along," he said.

"From a personal perspective, my family love coming here and more and more of my family and friends are coming and we've scheduled a really good weekend for a lot of people to come over the

Easter break.

"We think we'll get a lot of friends, families and members of the club joining us."

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us on Google News: The ExaminerShareFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyJosh PartridgeSports Journalist at The Examiner, LauncestonAs a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports

journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a

strong standard.As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet

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