A-League Expansion

[soccersensei]

Me too...  :'(

 

[Jesus]

Well. Hopefully, now, the FFA will give the teams the go ahead early on. Allowing them more time to get sponsors, attract players etc.

Will be interesting to see if TT gets up,or if this will lead to heavy competition from the gong.

 

[Kanagawa]

Well. Hopefully, now, the FFA will give the teams the go ahead early on. Allowing them more time to get sponsors, attract players etc.

Will be interesting to see if TT gets up,or if this will lead to heavy competition from the gong.

Yeah I can see the Nth queensland bid missing out to wollongong next season then perhaps coming in later. Purely because they seem so unstable and the FFA would be keen to get a wollongong/west sydney team established as soon as possible now that the AFL has publicly stated they want a team there by 2012. However time will tell i suppose, bummer no extra games this season 

 

[Jesus]

Well. Hopefully, now, the FFA will give the teams the go ahead early on. Allowing them more time to get sponsors, attract players etc.

Will be interesting to see if TT gets up,or if this will lead to heavy competition from the gong.

Yeah I can see the Nth queensland bid missing out to wollongong next season then perhaps coming in later. Purely because they seem so unstable and the FFA would be keen to get a wollongong/west sydney team established as soon as possible now that the AFL has publicly stated they want a team there by 2012. However time will tell i suppose, bummer no extra games this season 

The gong wont take the place of a west sydney bid. The west sydney and 2nd melbourne teams will be in in 2 years time

 

[dibo]

my take on this is that it's better this way - GCG know they're in, so they can talk to players right away. the 10th spot is up for grabs, and if the FFA are really smart they'll name the successful bid as soon as possible to allow for players to be signed and so on, and get the fanbases there excited about this season.

for some reason i'm liking the idea of the gong more and more by the day, so we'll see if that one floats. if it comes down to basically a competitive tender for the 10th spot then that may well force a better quality bid than what was almost a default option before.

when it came down to it they fractured pretty quickly too, so better that we don't admit them now than the club going all perth glory on us and not have the kind of public support the glory still have to tide them over while the clusterf**k resolves itself.

GCG will be massive from the off though, i'm really looking forward to that.

 

[skilbeck]

They should try and confirm GCG by November or so and then they can play some friendlies against Asian clubs and maybe their partner club in order to bring their team together and build up a support base. same with the 10th side

 

[BrisRecky]

I think they should explore the tassie option especially since the AFL dont want to stick a team in there ( which eludes as some truly great AFL players have come from Apple land)

 

[dibo]

They should try and confirm GCG by November or so

they've said already GCG are in pending lease arrangements at robina being finalised. no further tests, questions, hoops or hurdles, they're through.

I think they should explore the tassie option especially since the AFL dont want to stick a team in there ( which eludes as some truly great AFL players have come from Apple land)

no ground, very small population, makes no commercial sense yet.

 

[BrisRecky]

They should try and confirm GCG by November or so

they've said already GCG are in pending lease arrangements at robina being finalised. no further tests, questions, hoops or hurdles, they're through.

I think they should explore the tassie option especially since the AFL dont want to stick a team in there ( which eludes as some truly great AFL players have come from Apple land)

no ground, very small population, makes no commercial sense yet.

I dunno D...Belrieve Oval isnt a bad size ground

 

[Auburn Mariner]

Some observations whilst I listen to the ACL on SEN Radio:

1. Jesus, I must disagree with you. I think that Wollongong will get a team in V6, especially if they can secure funding for a new Western Grandstand at Wollongong Stadium. I reckon a second Sydney side AND a second Melbourne team are on the backburner.

2. A Tassie team is unlikely. Their only long-term franchise, the Tassie Devils NBL team, fell in financial heap. As a matter of interest, York Park in Launceston is actually Tasmania's best ground. They host regular Hawthorn and St Kilda games, have stands around 100% of the ground, and its does not have a cricket pitch, unlike the beautiful Royal Bellerive.

3. Not that I am an FFA fan, but I think that this may end up being a wise decision. I too cannot wait for a Skilled Park/Lang Park week in SE Qld (and no, I am NOT responsible for you lot!!!), but the one question in my mind is: do we have the players RIGHT NOW to create two more teams? In another year's time, we will have played in a world-class competition (Beijing), giving more young players time on a world stage. Also, players like Chipperfield, Kewell, Viduka, Schwarzer, etc will be one year closer to coming home, to what you would imagine would be a lucrative Marquee contract.

I reckon they should make V4 28 rounds long, as I think EVERYONE feels that 21 games is not long enough.

That's my two cents worth.

Cheerio,

AM

 

[fish]

Wgong?? I dont think the stadium has anything to do with it down there, I dont think they would ever fill it anyway, I went to Brandon Park to watch a few of the old NSL games and there were 70 people there.
It will be the same 2 gaining entry next season for mine, I do like the ieda of an extra round though, repetitive it may be but its all football

 

[graaant]

I'd love to see a Gong team, great place for a weekend trip for games, great talent coming out of there all the time. If they can get funding, I can definitely see that happening!

 

[Auburn Mariner]

Fish, I was in Wollongong when they defeated Perth at Subi in the NSL GF. In fact, I was at their club, the Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow, for the game. The whole town went mental.

I agree that Brandon Park was a desolate place, but this is the A-League, and Wollongong has an excellent football culture, having many more European-born residents than does Shhhkippyville, aka Newcastle.

I agree that the Galaxy & Thunder will gain entry for V5, but I was specific in posting that Wollongong will get a gig for V6.

As for team 12, I will stick my neck out and say either a Western Melbourne/Geelong side, playing out Kardinia Park, OR, wait for it, a Christchurch-based team, playing out of the-then newly renovated Lancaster Park. Makes for a wicked trip to NZ; Wellington, Queenstown, Christchurch.

 

[Jesus]

I think Lowy is too interested in west sydney tv ratings to leave it go too long unattended. He definately said on twg that he wants a 2nd syd, and 2nd melb team in 2 seasons time when the exclsive rights to those cities ends.

The gong have a chance against NT. If they get a bid quickly off the ground, and their stadium s considered adequate.

 

[dibo]

I think the only thing holding up the hop straight to 12 teams sooner rather than later is playing stocks. 2nd Melbourne and Sydney teams are no-brainers, and obviously there'll be two teams next year. BB has opened the bidding process up for those two so I'm sure that will bring out the interested parties and there'll be some intrigue and horse trading before teams are named. The unsuccessful bids will have their resumes kept so to speak so Im sure that even putting in an unsuccessful bid wont be a waste of time it will create an expectation of sorts that those parties will be back in good time.

While the existing clubs arent yet profitable, the boom in corporate interest will mean that with the likely exception of Perth and possibly Newcastle I think club budgets will be moving in the right direction. Simply moving in the right direction can be taken as a good sign and an endorsement of expansion. Moving forward is good. Debt is ok so long as there is growth across the board, and the competition is certainly growing.

With the coming expansion into multi-channeling and so on with digital and HD FTA channels I think we can reasonably expect that the next TV deal may involve some sort of hybrid of Fox as the primary broadcaster with a FTA partner doing highlights and a match of the round, much the same as the NRL has now. That may offer a boost to the competitions reach and increase the appeal to corporates.

As these two feed into one another, there will be a rise in the number of Australian players coming home to play in the A-League as marquees or as well-paid cap players. The increased effort and funding going to youth development programs will continue to bring benefits too, and a steady stream of graduates from the youth league can do nothing but help the playing stocks.

We need to walk before we run, but the money and soon the players will be available to steadily push the competition out further across the country.

 

[Kareem]

They should try and confirm GCG by November or so and then they can play some friendlies against Asian clubs and maybe their partner club in order to bring their team together and build up a support base. same with the 10th side

how could they play though...no one would be 'available' until 6 months later. I mean unless anyone is uncontracted at that time and is willing to train for 6 months. They would be making future signings thats it!

 

[Kareem]

I do have questions over a NZ team? I mean I used to not be that happy in NRL etc. but this is even crazier as we are in freaking different confederations???
How the heck can that be possible?
If Nix ever get off the bottom of the table they are excluded from the right to play in the ACL which is too messy!
It's like having a Turkey/Saudi Arabia league...impossible!




On another note these are teams I would like to see in maybe 10-15 years.
A-league 7 (CCM, SFC, NJ, QLD, MV, AU, PG)
+
Gold coast + Wellington + Wollongong
Western Sydney + 2nd Melbourne Team
Canberra, Tasmania,
That would be like a 12 team comp.

Then eventually start a 2nd division
Paramatta (apparently a few think it is viable...i am not too sure atm), Northern Territory
Coffs Harbour, Victorian side, North WA, 4th sydney team, 3rd Melb team.
Which may only be 6-8 teams.


I really love the idea of divisions. It gives the NIX and the Glory type teams something to play for at then end apart from the avoiding the spoon (How awesome was last year's relegation battle in the Premier League?

Although my only worry is the salary cap...I understand the need for it but if it remained there are definately not enough good players to hold out across so many teams. Unless things start to go Man Utd, Chelsea style it wouldnt be very good as it would see skill level in games drop.

I mean in the PL it works coz there is no salary cap...which means Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have approx 10 world class players (as in would make most starting elevens in almost any club) each. Say total of 40 world class players. Say a total of 1-2 world class at other clubs = 20. That's 60 in total in PL. If there was a salary cap- each club would only have 3!!! And how boring would the Premier League be?
Anyway what I am trying to say is that salary cap is only good if it is for a small league.


So I basically want to know right now whether we have the talent to sustain 14 teams (I heard FFA reckon we can get that eventually)?
I mean more clubs= more money for players...
but we are talking about bench players eg. Clark being offered contracts in GC?
Or a 1 year older Gumprecht (who would have to bench here at CCM) being offered what you would presume would be a starting positon?

Isorry for length...I was bored

 

[graaant]

I think the only thing holding up the hop straight to 12 teams sooner rather than later is playing stocks. 2nd Melbourne and Sydney teams are no-brainers, and obviously there'll be two teams next year. BB has opened the bidding process up for those two so I'm sure that will bring out the interested parties and there'll be some intrigue and horse trading before teams are named. The unsuccessful bids will have their resumes kept so to speak so Im sure that even putting in an unsuccessful bid wont be a waste of time it will create an expectation of sorts that those parties will be back in good time.

While the existing clubs arent yet profitable, the boom in corporate interest will mean that with the likely exception of Perth and possibly Newcastle I think club budgets will be moving in the right direction. Simply moving in the right direction can be taken as a good sign and an endorsement of expansion. Moving forward is good. Debt is ok so long as there is growth across the board, and the competition is certainly growing.

With the coming expansion into multi-channeling and so on with digital and HD FTA channels I think we can reasonably expect that the next TV deal may involve some sort of hybrid of Fox as the primary broadcaster with a FTA partner doing highlights and a match of the round, much the same as the NRL has now. That may offer a boost to the competitions reach and increase the appeal to corporates.

As these two feed into one another, there will be a rise in the number of Australian players coming home to play in the A-League as marquees or as well-paid cap players. The increased effort and funding going to youth development programs will continue to bring benefits too, and a steady stream of graduates from the youth league can do nothing but help the playing stocks.

We need to walk before we run, but the money and soon the players will be available to steadily push the competition out further across the country.

Good post!
You never fail to impress Dibo

 

[Jesus]

I do have questions over a NZ team? I mean I used to not be that happy in NRL etc. but this is even crazier as we are in freaking different confederations???
How the heck can that be possible?
If Nix ever get off the bottom of the table they are excluded from the right to play in the ACL which is too messy!
It's like having a Turkey/Saudi Arabia league...impossible!




On another note these are teams I would like to see in maybe 10-15 years.
A-league 7 (CCM, SFC, NJ, QLD, MV, AU, PG)
+
Gold coast + Wellington + Wollongong
Western Sydney + 2nd Melbourne Team
Canberra, Tasmania,
That would be like a 12 team comp.

Then eventually start a 2nd division
Paramatta (apparently a few think it is viable...i am not too sure atm), Northern Territory
Coffs Harbour, Victorian side, North WA, 4th sydney team, 3rd Melb team.
Which may only be 6-8 teams.


I really love the idea of divisions. It gives the NIX and the Glory type teams something to play for at then end apart from the avoiding the spoon (How awesome was last year's relegation battle in the Premier League?

Although my only worry is the salary cap...I understand the need for it but if it remained there are definately not enough good players to hold out across so many teams. Unless things start to go Man Utd, Chelsea style it wouldnt be very good as it would see skill level in games drop.

I mean in the PL it works coz there is no salary cap...which means Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have approx 10 world class players (as in would make most starting elevens in almost any club) each. Say total of 40 world class players. Say a total of 1-2 world class at other clubs = 20. That's 60 in total in PL. If there was a salary cap- each club would only have 3!!! And how boring would the Premier League be?
Anyway what I am trying to say is that salary cap is only good if it is for a small league.


So I basically want to know right now whether we have the talent to sustain 14 teams (I heard FFA reckon we can get that eventually)?
I mean more clubs= more money for players...
but we are talking about bench players eg. Clark being offered contracts in GC?
Or a 1 year older Gumprecht (who would have to bench here at CCM) being offered what you would presume would be a starting positon?

Isorry for length...I was bored

Divisions will never work here unless cricket, nrl, afl, aru all colapse.

Perth and glory would not have more fans going to the games if they were likely to be relegated, they would have less. Then much less when relegated.

We can hope to be european style in some ways.

But there is not the population, corprate opportunity, or tradition in this country to support lower leagues. Lower leagues will have no money. Hell, Lowy does not even see a 16 team 1st division in the near future, he isnt going to prop up 14 more clubs in a lower division, with less fans, and little care from anyone.

There is no need to water down support for teams like melb and bling, with teams in lwer divisions having loyal fans, if only a few thousand, who wont support a 1st division side.

Until we can have a 20 team league, with every team making significant funds, win or lose. With a much higher salary cap, there will not be a 2nd division.

I doubt we would see one in 20 years to be frank.

 

[Jesus]

This is very interesting....



A-League set to grow even bigger: Football Federation
Article from: The Daily Telegraph

By David Davutovic

March 13, 2008 12:00am

THE A-League could expand beyond 10 teams in 2009, while Gold Coast Galaxy and a Townsville-based consortium are no shoo-in to get the nod in season five.

While the pair narrowly missed out on inclusion for the 2008-09 season, Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley yesterday revealed that the gates would be open for rival consortia to apply for licences.

"We're not ruling out going beyond 10 teams, for example, in season five. It's a real possibility," Buckley said.

"We'll wait and see what other groups come forward from other regions.

"No there's still some issues that need to be resolved with both."

Buckley said FFA favoured immediate expansion, but both clubs had lingering issues such as finances and stadium arrangements, and would have faced a serious race against the clock to be competitive.

The Townsville-bid was pulled last week after a split in the camp, but Melbourne-based businesswoman Millissa Fischer-Massa's Northern Thunder bid is the one favoured to get up next season.

"We just don't think that the two teams are ready to go in season four and they'll benefit both on and off the field by having a longer lead in," Buckley said.

It came on the day when the FFA took a giant leap towards honouring former Socceroos and establishing a permanent and respectable hall of fame.

Former Socceroos Alex Tobin, Charlie Yankos, Ray Baartz, John Watkiss, Ted Smith, Doug Wendt, Denis Yaager and Kimon Taliadoros met Buckley and FFA board member Phil Wolanski to discuss establishing a Socceroo Club (a player alumni).



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Dreaming about the extra games. Possible 12 team league next year sounds crazy. Maybe they are thinking 11? Maybe they are set to have a large increase in funding.

Perhaps fox has said they will increase their payments if the league expands?

Perhaps the FFA see it necessary to the World Cup bid to have a 12 team league as soon as possible.

Perhaps they are set to recieve major sponsorship boost from somewhere?

As always on this subject, I am intrigued