The English Premier League plans to help develop clubs in Asia – including Australia’s Asian Champions League representatives – through “twinning” partnerships, AFC president Mohammed bin Hammam said on Friday.
The twinning scheme is part of an agreement on cooperation between the world’s leading football league and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), bin Hammam told reporters.
It could coincide with EPL matches being played in Asian cities.
“There will be a platform for our administrators and officials as well as coaches to join the Premier League for gaining experiences they have and knowledge they have,” bin Hammam said.
“They are caring about our success and we are also caring about their existence in Asia.
“At the end of the day, we found there is a lot of mutual interest between us.”
He made the remarks as he formally announced a new format for the AFC Champions League from 2009 on the sidelines of the Club World Cup.
The AFC Champions League will be expanded from 28 to 32 teams next year.
Thirty teams will come from 11 qualified countries with two to come from qualifying play-offs.
“I think the time has come to professionalise our football,” bin Hammam said.
The partnership accord between the AFC and EPL followed a recent bust-up over the English league’s plan to play one “39th” round abroad, possibly in Asia.
Bin Hammam had initially denounced the idea as he feared it would further hamper the development of Asia’s own leagues and national sides.
But he changed his mind and welcomed it after he was convinced that the Premier League intends to leave a positive “legacy” in Asia rather than exploit the lucrative region.
Bin Hammam said that Asia had always been concerned about whether foreign clubs would “come and collect the money and go” or if they would leave some legacy.
“Now we know there will be benefits for Asian football,” he said. “It’s not like an invasion.”
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thinker said | December 13th 2008 @ 7:08am | Report comment
I see Man city’s relationship and mentoring of Perth has done wonders for Perth
Pippinu said | December 13th 2008 @ 9:43am | Report comment
^ lol ^
oikee said | December 13th 2008 @ 11:10am | Report comment
Now let me just get this right in my own head. 32 teams, so what do we have in a world cup play-off? 30 teams. Its all getting a little bit to big i think. The shine is fast becoming lost in space. K.B like you said, the universe next. Now think about this, the big bang thoery, what happens when it reaches the end, it starts to implode. Not long now.
cosmos forever said | December 13th 2008 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
That’s great. The EPL teams can teach Asia to build a league based on overseas talent (at the expense of it’s own players and coaches) and how to lose masses of money and be on the verge of collapse and need to sell out to, oh, Asian football entrepreneurs…
Good one
Pippinu said | December 13th 2008 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
Cosmos
that’s quite a funny response, with more than a hint of truth in it.
The idea of partnerships always sound appealing, but I have often wondered what that really means for a giant of the game and a minnow?
I know that Palermo was a feeder club to Juventus for decades, and it’s no surprise that they were out of the top flight for about three decades.
Having said that, I could envisage true partnerships between A-league clubs and other clubs that are more or less of a similar standing, where they can swap resources at minimal cost, e.g. we have a surplus of mids, you need a central defender, let’s do a swap at zero cost for one season – maybe even short term loan deals for emergencies, or during off seasons.
But beyond that, I can’t really see what a minnow would get out of a giant club basically controlling their operations (let’s be honest, it would be naive to talk of an equal partnership with a big EPL club).
The other thing is, let’s say MV partnered with Man Utd – but most of us probaly prefer other EPL clubs!!
Very, very complicated.
I’d much prefer to see MV partner with one or two Costa Rican clubs, seeing that the relationship is already well established, and prominent Ticos are clearly keen to come to Australia – but what do MV offer in return?? Would we send a promising youngster to Costa Rica? What could we give?
The more I think about it, the more complicated it sounds.
Slippery Jim said | December 13th 2008 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
I disagree with Cosmos. The EPL is far and away the most successful football competition in the world. A quick scan of the top 20 clubs in the Deloitte money league (most profitable clubs) and you will find that the of global top 20, English clubs occupying eight of the positions, Italian clubs five positions, plus two clubs from each of Germany, Scotland and Spain and one club from France.
The UK clubs, who make up half the top 20, have a much more balanced spread of revenue than their European counterparts. Spanish and Italian clubs, in particular, are more dependent on broadcasting largely due to their individual broadcast rights deals. It is worth adding that English clubs are solely self funding, whereas their counterparts in Europe often receive government financial support.
This shows that the EPL is the model for a successful league and a strong and entertaining competition that appeals to a global audience.
dasilva said | December 13th 2008 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
Have we seen any sheffield united player or Manchester City players been sent to Australia. What about any Australians players bought by those clubs.
I always wondered what this parent and feeders club meant and how we benefit from it.
Slippery Jim said | December 13th 2008 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Sorry to cut and past these articles, but they explain the benefit of these kind of schemes, in this case the Sheffield Utd/CC Mariners partnership. Note that a Sheffield Utd player is likely to be loaned to the Mariners for their ACL campaign…
Initially (Feb 2nd):
“The English Championship challengers, who head a worldwide network of football clubs that include representations in Brazil, China and Hungary, will officially partner the Mariners in a number of exciting on and off the field initiatives in future years.
Most tellingly, the partnership between the Mariners and Sheffield United will be evident at the top tier of future club planning.
Mariners Deputy Chairman Peter Turnbull, owner of Turnbull Group Developments, and Sheffield United owner and Chairman Kevin McCabe, have agreed to form a joint venture property company.
The purpose of this joint venture is to secure and develop properties within Australia where a substantial amount of the profits will be utilised for the benefit of the Mariners for decades to come.
These sums can be allocated to the Mariners in the interest of continuing the business of providing opportunities for youth by way of the Mariners Youth Academy and by providing the Mariners with sufficient future capital to continue to expand their business; In turn, Mariners Youth Academy players and current and future members of the Mariners’ senior playing rosters will form part of a global network of football talent that can be readily exchanged between all clubs concerned.
By virtue of partnering with Sheffield United, the Mariners now have established football links with the ambitious UK club, Chinese Super League club Chengdu Blades, Brazilian giant Sao Paulo and legendary Hungarian club Ferencvaros.
“The benefit of today’s announcement in terms beyond football cannot be understated,” said Mariners Deputy Chairman Peter Turnbull.
“In engaging the expertise of a gentleman of Kevin McCabe’s repute, a man whose track record in establishing and revolutionising football clubs is renowned the world over, we have truly taken a significant step in ensuring that the Mariners become the centre of excellence for football in Australia.”
Beyond the off field benefits of the Mariners’ new arrangement, the fledgling Mariners Youth Academy, the only one of its kind in Australia, is set to benefit from an association with one of Europe’s most highly regarded Youth Academy structures.
It is intended for the elite members of the Mariners Youth Academy to tour the world to visit its partner clubs in England, Brazil, China and Hungary, providing the Central Coast’s best young talents an opportunity to further their football education in a way that is not available to any other group of outstanding young talents in Australia.
In reverse, the Mariners will have some of Sheffield United’s brightest Youth Academy or reserve team prospects available to play in yellow and navy on occasion – with the Blades currently able to boast one of the most exciting and cosmopolitan line ups in England’s second tier.
Sheffield United’s current Championship squad boasts talent from China, Jamaica, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Senegal, Sweden, Wales and Australia, who are represented by David Carney.
“In terms of our future player recruitment, youth pathways and talent identification, this partnership is one that will be invaluable to the future of our club,” said Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman.
“Our Youth Academy has already made significant strides in its embryonic stages and this partnership will serve to enhance its progress and the quality of players it will produce for our future senior line ups.
“We’re delighted to have signed this agreement with Sheffield United, one of the world’s most progressive and ambitious clubs and one whose history and experience in all facets of football will prove invaluable to our future successes.”"
And recently (Dec 8th):
“CENTRAL Coast Mariners are no longer unfashionable after completing a major overhaul of the club’s ownership structure – including substantial fresh investment from an English property magnate – which is likely to make the club one of the most viable, and ambitious, in the A-League.
Kevin McCabe – owner of English second-tier side Sheffield United with a fortune estimated at more than $300million – has joined forces with current stakeholders Peter Turnbull and Lyall Gorman to form the Mariners Trust, which owns more than 60 per cent of the club.
In the short-term, the trust will inject $1m into operational costs, but it is the long-term strategy – expected to involve $40m of investment during the next five years – which will take the club to a new level.
The most exciting project is the construction of a massive new training complex at Tuggerah, which will include a 120-room hotel as well as state-of-the-art training and administration facilities. The development is expected to be officially unveiled next week, and will make the Mariners the first club in the competition to own its own headquarters, making it the envy of the league.
Other key trust plans include the establishment of a world-standard youth program based at Tuggerah, closer ties between the Mariners and McCabe’s international network of clubs – principally Chinese side Chengdu Blades and the newly formed UAE side Dubai Blades – taking over Bluetongue Stadium’s management rights, the recruitment of at least two foreign imports for next year’s Asian Champions League campaign, and a loan player from Sheffield United in the next few weeks.
McCabe flew out of Australia last night after watching the Mariners host Queensland Roar on Saturday night, but before his departure made it clear he saw huge potential in the future of the Mariners.
“What they’ve achieved in just four years is fantastic,” he said. “This was something that was never planned. I spend a lot of time in Australia on business. I got to meet both Lyall and Peter about 15 months ago and their ideals and mine are pretty much the same.
“I’ve been with Sheffield United since 1995 and it’s all been about creating business models which can provide revenue opportunities off the field.
“Peter and Lyall see things the same way and that’s why we’ve got together. It’s about building a proper infrastructure, from the six-year-olds upwards.
“Football is a risk game. How often does the best team lose?
“Probably more than in any other sport. What you want is to build a club which is going to be successful over the long term.”
McCabe owns Hungarian side Ferencvaros as well as Chengdu and Dubai, while Sheffield United also have a partnership with Brazilian giants Sao Paolo. Asked whether he hoped his newest football investment would be a profitable one, he replied: “I don’t hope, I know it will.”
The Mariners will head to Chengdu for acclimatisation ahead of next year’s ACL campaign, with McCabe adding: “If we get the link right, you’d expect a couple of players from Chengdu to end up at the Mariners in the next few years.”
McCabe revealed a Sheffield United player was likely to join the Mariners ahead of the ACL, saying: “Probably the best way for fans to be convinced an affiliation is working is with a player swap. Fingers crossed, there will be an announcement soon.”"
oikee said | December 13th 2008 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
Look you can bang on about this league all you want and how the world loves it, B.S i just want a local league, not one with clubs from overseas. Why even bother with a world cup anymore then. I dont want damm brazillians and chinese playing in our comps. Its all to worldly, its going to become so mundane. Even Brazillians playing world cup. One day it will be Brazillian Chinese players playing for china. What happens then. The gloss is fast falling off this comp. And can we just let it be said, money is the reason behind this push. Nothing else, i billion asians with Man U shirts, not Aderlaide United Shirts. Bow down to the big one you guys, fall into line and take your medicine. You are now affically robots.
Slippery Jim said | December 13th 2008 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Oikee, not sure what you’re on about lad, it is club football that this discussion is about after all, not national football – and does this mean you don’t want overseas clubs such as the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League?