Ivan Slavich convinces the Ambassadors

Ivan Slavich's delivery, supported by excellent media, viral, tv, poster and web design campaign from Ash Morgan and the team at Zoo receieved an overwhelming vote of support from Canberra A-League inaugural Ambassadors.

Canberra's favourite football journo Merryn Sherwood from the Canberra Times has a story in the paper and for more from me on the meeting read on...

The faithful and true believers had signed up to be Ambassadors. There is no doubt it was a hopeful group who entered the room last night.

But in Canberra and the region we're an intelligent mob and we still take some convincing to part with our money, especially for a football team which doesn't exist.

279 people has taken the plunge before last nights meeting.

How many more will now join, and how quickly?

The mood was overwhelmingly supportive after the meeting. Ivan Slavich presented a powerful, emotive and intelligent case for the Canberra A-League team.

It truly is now or never. With the support Ivan has garnered and continues to garner across the business community, and I can confirm that there is another sponsor and investor lined up after last nights meeting, we have a marvellous opportunity to get a team.

I'd spoken to all Ambassadors over the last week. All were positive but some reservations remained.

After the meeting, everyone I spoke was convinced this is the time and the man to support.

Sure there was a broad ranging discussion:

1. Cooma wanted to be assured it was a team for the region. The name Canberra could be a sticking point, and may detract from the ability to sell the message to fans and investors from Cooma, Goulburn, Bateman's Bay, Young, Cowra, Albany, Wagga, Coota, and beyond.

All these regional towns have football teams and many would make the journey on match day.

We clearly need to attract and include them. And Ivan Slavich mentioned that if the ACT Government was a major investor the naming thing could be a problem. But he stated over and over that this is a team for the Region, from the Coast to Shepparton South Sydney to Thredbo.

Would players visit the regions, take games to the Regions

2. A discussion was raised regarding the posters. Some wanted to see a girl, young boys rather than just the blokes. Couldn't agree more.

3. The structure of the club. Ivan spoke of his desire to have the Foundation Members represented on the board, but he also acknowledged it would depend on the requirements from Investors. At this stage he wasn't prepared to dictate terms to investors.

4. Being a Foundation Member being part of history and having your name appear as a Foundation Member forever was a point which clearly hit home.

5. Entrance to all W-League and ACT Premier League games for FIVE years free, a cap and t-shirt will also be given to Foundation Members, and of course discounted season tickets.

6. The Youth League has announced it's draw and there are seven teams in it. Abye every weekend. The issue was, strongly raised, that we should be playing now. Tasmania are not in the league and will be playing a few games against Sydney and Melbourne in the bye. But not Canberra. Why not?

At this stage this is not the responsibility of the A-League team although the future A-League side will come under the A-League Management structure.

Interviews from The City News, Canberra Times and University of Canberra Media.

7. Jessica Salvage, from www.linkwebservices.com.au has a number of banner images which can be used on our blog, website, email etc. Examples include the one at the top right of this blog and more impressively Jessica has added it to her www.sundaysoccer.org site. It should be up later today. All clubs and businesses can do the same. And Jess can assist if anyone should need help.

And there is an ability to download a poster/payment form which will be live later today on the www.a-league4canberra.com