for the second Melbourne licence as part of the Southern Cross FC consortium, but on 26 September 2008 the Football Federation Australia announced it was commencing exclusive negotiations with the rival 'Melbourne Heart FC' bid which went on to join the competition for the 2010-11 A-League season. In March 2013 it was revealed that the club was in negotiations to take a stake in the cash-strapped Central Coast Mariners, but talks cooled off when the Mariners ownership structure was consolidated under Mike Charlesworth. In April 2013, the club was revealed to have made several offers to take a 100 per cent stake in Melbourne Heart FC; however, these offers were rejected. Melbourne Heart management subsequently accepted an offer from Manchester City F.C. In November 2016, it was reported that South Melbourne intended to submit a bid for an A-League licence, with the club intending to continue playing home games at Lakeside Stadium, if the bid is successful. Following this news, the club provisionally appointed Brazil and Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos as the team's head coach should they be granted an expansion slot. South Melbourne submitted a bid to join the expanded A-League in September 2018; however, were unsuccessful once again when, in December 2018, new consortium Western Melbourne FC was selected instead. Current squad Competition timeline South Melbourne won 8 premierships, 2 Dockerty Cups, and 2 Ampol Cups before their entrance into the National Soccer League (NSL) in 1977. In the 1984 season they won their first NSL premiership and their first championship, defeating Sydney Olympic 4–2 over a 2-legged Grand Final. They won another 4 premierships and 3 championships, only in the 1997–98 season winning the double again, before the NSL folded in 2004. The club didn't enter the newly formed national competition, the A-League, due to the bidding process and 1 team for 1 state rule, and returned to playing at state level, entering the Victorian Premier League. Since then they've won 2 premierships and 2 championships, with the most recent being in 2016. Honours Club Domestic FFV Community Shield Champions (1): 2015 Runners-up (2): 2016, 2017 National Premier Leagues/Victorian Premier League Champions (10): 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1976, 2006, 2014, 2016 Premiers (2): 2015, 2022 Runners-up (5): 1971, 1975, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2015 Victorian State League Division 1 Champions (1): 1960 Dockerty Cup Winners (8): 1974, 1975, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2015 Victorian