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AAP
AAP
Alex Mitchell

Leichhardt Oval works funded but Tigers yet to commit

Leichhardt Oval is in desperate need of a makeover. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

The Wests Tigers' future at Leichhardt Oval remains unclear despite the local council tipping $10 million into a redevelopment of the dilapidated ground.

The team's home venue of nine decades is in desperate need of a makeover and the club has threatened to abandon the ground next season if the facilities are not improved.

Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne said it was time for his council to "up the ante" with a Tuesday night vote sealing funding for female-friendly changerooms and replaced concourse seating.

But refurbishing the ground to keep it as a viable option for NRL matches would also take state and federal government funding, he said.

Wests Tigers game at Leichhardt Oval
State and federal funding is being sought for a planned revamp of Leichhardt Oval. (Steven Markham/AAP PHOTOS)

Mr Byrne poured cold water on reports a joint funding arrangement worth $40 million had already been struck, saying discussions remained ongoing.

"If I had a dollar for every time I thought we had the money for Leichhardt Oval, we would have saved the ground a long time before now," he told AAP on Wednesday.

"I'm not going to jinx it by overstating our position, we don't have any agreement as yet … but now was the time for the council to make clear our contribution and we're going to keep fighting to win the funding."

The Tigers have long held concerns about the condition and facilities of the storied suburban ground, which is unable to host men's and women's double-headers due to the lack of change rooms.

The council's master plan for the oval assumes the Tigers play a minimum of six games at the venue per season, but the club has not confirmed its home ground beyond the 2024 NRL campaign.

The team hosts five of its 12 home fixtures at Leichhardt in the current season, with most of the remainder played at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson declined to comment on funding commitments for the ground.

But in a letter to members sent in May, the club said Mr Richardson was phoned by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and told $20 million of federal funding had been "earmarked" for Leichhardt Oval.

The prime minister's office was contacted for comment.

Anthony Albanese
Wests Tigers members were told Anthony Albanese had earmarked funding for the stadium. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

The Tigers plan to finalise a three-year stadium strategy at their next board meeting later in June.

A NSW government spokeswoman would not confirm if a deal had been struck and said there was "no announcement to make today".

"All proposals made to the NSW government regarding investment into sporting stadiums are considered on a case-by-case basis," she said.

Premier Chris Minns recently said he was open to contributing to the redevelopment if the federal government and local council would also stump up.

"Given the cost isn't just exclusively borne by us and that the ground is falling into disrepair, we are open to it, but we haven't made a final decision," he told Sydney's 2GB radio.

Along with NRL matches, Leichhardt Oval regularly hosts A-League Women's matches, with champions Sydney FC playing nine fixtures there last campaign.

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