The duo - competing with Sutherland Shire-based Southern Expansion for a place in an extended national competition in 2019-2020 - were encouraged by FFA to present a united front.
And, after several meetings, they have heeded that advice to amalgamate, as 10 aspirants nationwide jostle for just two expansion spots.
Property finance guru Gino Marra, a long-time football advocate, is director of the SWS FC bid, while United for Macarthur’s cause has been led by Chris Redman, with billionaire property developer Lang Walker providing the financial muscle.
It’s unknown yet who will be the joint venture’s figurehead.
Former Socceroos stalwart Brett Emerton and A-League grand final winner Nicky Carle are co-advocates of the bid, with a revamped Campbelltown Stadium the intended home ground.
Both are backed by their local associations and share neighbouring territory, along with the vision of a community-backed model.
The melding is a logical step, according to respected player agent Paddy Dominguez, the man who in concert with former Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill and current FNSW chairman Anter Isaac pioneered the original concept of an A-League team in western Sydney back in 2010.
That team ultimately became Western Sydney Wanderers, after FFA stepped in and took over the project.
They adopted the bid team’s Wanderers name and the red and black colours envisioned by Dominguez, who believes Sydney can certainly accommodate another team in its fast expanding western corridor.
“There’s a massive urban population which stacks up well against any other city in the world,” Dominguez said.
“It’s very diverse and a lot of the people in the region come from cultures where football is the number one sport.
“It was very obvious back then that it was for fertile territory for an expansion team, and I think the same still applies.
“It makes sense for these two competing bids to join forces, if that’s what they end up doing, because it gives them the best chance of being successful in winning a license.
“I certainly feel Sydney has the capacity for a third team - and for that team to thrive if things are done right.”
Isaac and Dominguez conjured the Wanderers name in honour of the first official match in NSW between Wanderers Heritage XI and King’s School Old Boys back in 1880 at a venue near the site of Parramatta Stadium, home of the modern day Wanderers.
That was before FFA stepped in and launched the club officially in 2012 off its own back.
“I’ve always felt that the area, with its deep history as a football hotbed, has further capacity to grow in a football sense,” Dominguez added.
He has doubts though over Southern Expansion, who whilst enjoying cast-iron backing from Chinese investors, appear to be infiltrating territory which includes Sydney FC’s existing fan base.
“I don’t know how that would be determined by FFA. I know Sydney FC would be vociferous in saying this is very close to where they have had an established brand for 13 years,” he added.
“Is there room for two? That’s up to the FFA to determine.”
All would-be entrants must finalise their bid documents by the August 31 deadline.
The others are Wollongong Wolves, Victorian outfit Team 11, Western Melbourne Group, South Melbourne, Western Pride/Ipswich, Brisbane City and Canberra.
“Of the other bids, I would say the West Melbourne bid looks the best and makes the most sense,” added Dominguez.
“To the best of my knowledge, they would become the first and only A-League team to build and own their own stadium, which surely must be the template for the way forward for football teams in this country.
“Instead of stadium deals becoming cost prohibitive, they can be turned into serious revenue generating items on the balance sheet and underpin the financial viability of each club long into the future.”
A final decision is due from FFA by October.
