It's a risk to launch it like this. On one hand they want to show the idea isnt dead in the water but on the other hand launching it in the reduced capacity might kill any support to launch it in full later.
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National 2nd division.
- Thread starter sydmariner
- Start date
Stuartmcateer
Well-Known Member
The fact that 6 out of 14 couldn't meet the mandatory financial requirements to establish a stand alone league is hardly a positive look to the ability to expand.
Tbh I would rather see a sustainable 16-18 team A-league rather than 2 competitions that has a constant revolving door of clubs coming in and going bust. 🤷🏻♂️
pjennings
Well-Known Member
I guess the difference is what is the long term vision. 18 professional clubs or 32 professional clubs over 2 divisions. From a FA point of view (with a Socceroos hat on) the more players playing professionally is advantageous to them.
Is there enough money in football for 28-32 professional teams?
Does expanding the ALM to 18 mean that a second tier professional league will never get off the ground? And what does that mean for the Socceroos going forward?
Stuartmcateer
Well-Known Member
The vision has to be sustainability, regardless of the format or number of teams.
At the moment, one 13 team comp is barely sustainable.
Obviously more is better from a Socceroos standpoint (as long as it's Aussie players getting the opportunities to develop and not has been foreigners).
Given we are the 3rd/4th football code and the media own the 2 main codes (and have a vested interest in the major summer sport) sense would dictate a measured approach rather than a boom or bust scenario.
pjennings
Well-Known Member
The boom or bust approach of the launch worked (with the exception of the original Auckland). The measured approach has had much more mixed results (for varying reasons).
TBH I think the continual limping along in a measured way is what is killing football in Australia. It is a slow drip by drip death. That said - I don't think we are in a position to go with a boom or bust approach at the moment. While the FA and clubs can reach agreement on certain things the Federations wield too much power. As a result I suspect the unsaid part of the press release was that QLD would have had 2 representatives in a 10 team home and away season starting next year if Football Qld were more flexible. If that had happened we would be looking at 24 teams (including Canberra) from next season.
To my mind the Federations should just be operational arms of the Football Australia that are responsible for running the game on behalf of FA - not a separate tier unto themselves.
Stuartmcateer
Well-Known Member
They are supposed to be. But like local associations people get a sniff of power and run things for themselves rather than the benefit of football.
FFC Mariner
Well-Known Member
This is a start. Its part of a wider plan - dont forget, Australia has been voted by the AFC as having the best grassroots network (for the 2nd year in a row). Those players need pathways
2 proper divisions of 16 teams, pro/rel will take a long long time but we are getting there
2 proper divisions of 16 teams, pro/rel will take a long long time but we are getting there
pjennings
Well-Known Member
The more I look at it the more I can see the ALM at 16 teams.
Team 14 will be Canberra. The ACT government has said they will look at matching the $3m they are putting towards the BBL to an ALM bid if they can show similar exposure to the BBL. The BBL will have 2 games in Canberra. A Canberra team would have 13 home games.
The 15th and 16th team will probably be another couple of years later. Tony Pignata is lobbying hard for Federal and State assistance as part of a Tasmanian bid. The 16th team will be the problem one. Most existing clubs that you would consider are tied to the NST. Will it be a second team from Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide, Gold Coast or maybe a south island NZ team out of Christchurch (probably not the most popular choice).
true believer
Well-Known Member
wollongong has more right to be in the A league .than anymore ,no fans ,plastics .
Last edited:
pjennings
Well-Known Member
Agree - but already slated for NST
FFC Mariner
Well-Known Member
Cry harder
My thoughts exactly, take a long hard look at the APL and leaving FA which all clubs wanted and they have all created the current financial situation by themselves. If I was the FA I wouldn’t be stumping up money because of the early APL’s poor management and business decisions. I think he should just disappear into the sunset and worry about gyms.
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