Article from Simon Hill:
THERE have been some seismic days for football in Australia over the last decade - World Cup qualification, the move to Asia, the arrival of Alessandro del Piero - and now you can add 26th October, 2015 to the list.
Make no mistake, yesterday’s announcement by FFA that Wellington Phoenix will not be granted their desired 10 year A-League licence extension, is another game changer.
Why? Aside of the devastation it could cause football across the ditch, it also sends a signal that the mooted third Sydney team is firmly on the FFA agenda. Quite why expansion in one market must be accompanied by contraction in another however, is baffling, to this writer at least.
First, let’s deal with the ‘Nix.
My own opinion is that the Phoenix have been - and continue to be - good for the league in many respects. They are the most competitive club ever to come out of New Zealand, they are financially stable, have a committed (if small) fan base, and they also play good football under Ernie Merrick.
On a broader level, it’s also sometimes forgotten that Australia benefited (and continues to benefit) hugely by the “helping hand” given by the many countries to the north, in welcoming the nation into the Asian Football Confederation in 2006. Isn’t it only right that we extend that helping hand to our neighbours, as they try to develop their football?
It’s also true however, that commercially, the numbers don’t add much to the A-League. The 6,000 that showed up on Saturday night prime time to watch the team take on the league leaders, Brisbane, can only be described as disappointing.
The TV deal with Sky Sport fails to deliver significant cash, and ratings are low, both for home games in New Zealand, and whenever the ‘Nix play away in Australia. In corporate speak, the ‘Nix “fail to help the brand.”
It’s estimated that keeping the ‘Nix alive costs Australian football up to $3 million annually - money FFA believe could be better invested in the game here, particularly with regards to development pathways for players.
Those figures however, are disputed by Phoenix Chairman, Rob Morrison. In an interview with Fox Sports in May, Morrison argued it was actually private money from New Zealand contributing to football in Australia - by paying (for example), Nathan Burns’s wages, among others. He did, however, admit that the New Zealand FA needed to make a bigger contribution - another bone of contention at FFA HQ.
As things stand, Phoenix’s licence runs out at the end of the current season - but even if Welnix were prepared to go for the offer of the four-year extension, it’s success would not be guaranteed.
Muddying the waters are the “exemption” clauses needed from the NZFA, Oceania, AFC, and ultimately FIFA, for a non-AFC club to continue playing outside its own confederation.
The reason? AFC could soon face problems of its own, over a mooted ASEAN Super League. The countries involved - Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia - contain some clubs that are hugely in favour, but others aren’t so keen. AFC, keen to avoid conflict, may not want to set a precedent by offering a club an “opt-out” from its own domestic competition, as is currently the case with Wellington.
Presuming then, Wellington are not long for the competition, is the third Sydney franchise ready to go? Perhaps even as early as next season? The answer is unclear.
While there is no doubt the “Shire” region has big playing numbers, one consortium at least, says it is no longer interested. George Koulouris, restaurateur, and President of the Cronulla Seagulls FC, was part of a group interested in obtaining a licence - and he says they had significant overseas backing.
But plans to base the team out of Cronulla (Remondis Stadium), ran aground after the local NRL team appointed it’s new CEO. Koulouris now says the groups football focus is on overseas investment, not Australia.
Bruce Gordon, owner of WIN Television and more readily associated with Rugby League, has long been touted as an A-League investor. It’s rumoured his Chief Executive at WIN, Andrew Lancaster, has held meetings with FFA officials. But the feeling is, Gordon would prefer an exclusively Wollongong-based team, reportedly not the favoured model of FFA.
Investment from abroad is still a possibility, with a group from China rumoured to be in the mix - and there may be others. FFA has clearly set its course fairly & squarely on a third team in the southern part of Australia’s biggest city - and you’d imagine at least some backing is in place, otherwise the timing of yesterday’s announcement is, frankly, odd.
Are Wellington to be the fall guys? I hope not - and there’s still time.
Professional club football in New Zealand is - as of today - on life support, and the football (and business community) across the ditch have to make a choice whether to try and revive it, or let it die. That would be a travesty, after eight years hard work - first by Terry Serepisos, and now the Welnix group. With Rugby Union so dominant, the pro game would probably never return. This is its last chance.
Almost ten years since Frank Lowy unfurled the Australian flag at AFC House, as Australia were welcomed into the fold in the spirit of generosity, what a terrible last act of the Lowy administration that would represent. Killing off the professional club game in Oceania, the home we left behind.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/footbal...s-a-game-changer/story-e6frf4gl-1227583562475
for Football like the frick'n AFL already HAS!)
