The VPL stands its ground against FFV ‘bullying’
Roar Guru By Paddy Higgs, 6 May 2009 Paddy Higgs is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- A-League, football, Football Federation Victoria, Mark Rendell, Mark Viduka, Scott McDonald, Victorian Premier League, Vinnie Grella
To the uninformed outsider, the state of football in Victoria might look particularly rosy at the moment. It’s an easy mistake to make. The state boasts the most successful team in the A-League’s short history, and there’s another team on the way, ushering in what will be an enthralling rivalry.
Melbourne’s favourite son, Mark Viduka, is rumoured to be on his way back home, while the likes of Vinnie Grella, Scott McDonald and Josh Kennedy continue to do the state proud.
But ill-feeling at the game’s state level has been simmering for some time now. And the pot finally ran over last week.
In a letter sent to Football Federation Victoria and circulated to the media, the Victorian Premier League men’s standing committee voiced its disillusionment with the current hierarchy of the state’s governing body.
Among a list of eight resolutions, the letter outlined a complete lack of confidence in FFV chief executive Mark Rendell.
The letter claims to have the support of all VPL clubs.
And while the extent of the sustenance may vary from club to club, that they have banded together speaks volumes itself.
Most clubs widely think that FFV has a hidden agenda to eventually force them out of business.
It’s a heady accusation, but it’s one that club chiefs, such as charismatic Melbourne Knights’ chairman Matt Tomas, firmly believe.
“Many of these clubs have been involved the whole time, and (the FFV want to) sweep them under the carpet like they never existed,” Tomas told Leader Newspapers this week.
Owners and chairmen point to a new fines system and the FFA ruling compensating them with just $3000 when losing talented players to A-League clubs as proof.
The proposed introduction of a senior men’s summer zone competition is vehemently opposed by clubs, who believe it will be established as an eventual replacement for the VPL.
FFV has launched an independent investigation, headed by Ken Jacobs, to probe the state of the game in Victoria.
Clubs, believing they smell a rat, have refused to deal with him.
FFV’s relationship with its member clubs has been testy for some time now. But the letter indicates that things could be coming to a dramatic head.
Like others around the country’s various state leagues, VPL clubs maintain strong links with their ethnic backgrounds.
They believe they have the violence and crowd control issues that plagued the former NSL in check, but are still being punished for them.
Feeling like captive tigers, these proud clubs have been edged and prodded further backwards into a corner.
But they won’t be giving in easily, as Hume City owner and chairman Steve Kaya stated to the Leader: “What gets me is that instead of the FFV being proud of the VPL clubs and trying to keep them alive… they are going straight for the jugular,” he said.
“The FFV is standing over and hoping the club will buckle. I’m not going to buckle. No way.”
Stay tuned.
Recommend this story.
May 6th 2009 @ 2:37pm
Savvas Tzionis said | May 6th 2009 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
Why should these clubs ‘open’ themselves to the mainstream?
Isn’t that what the Victory is there for?
Why doesn’t the ‘mainstream’ go along to a VPL game and enjoy it for what it is? I used to go often to watch Bulleen on Monday Nights at Veneto club in Melbourne even though I am NOT Italian background.
This country may be multicultural, but a large part of the populace (as evidenced by comments above) still expect ‘migrants’ to ‘assimilate’.
May 6th 2009 @ 2:42pm
zach said | May 6th 2009 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
oops forgot to mention.. just on the ethnic tag and violence that keeps being muted… have been to quite a few ex nsl games quite a few vpl games and my fair share of hal… in all the violence that the old nsl was tagged with i never once saw or heard of SOG teams being deployed… sadly on two occasions that i was at the old dome.. there they were…. sad….
May 6th 2009 @ 3:14pm
NUFCMVFC said | May 6th 2009 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
Nice article
The $3k thing does need to be reformed, the the clubs of our hsitory for better or for worse need to be shown a bit more respect
May 6th 2009 @ 4:32pm
Los Oso said | May 6th 2009 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
The letter referred to in the article is supported by 10 of the 12 VPL clubs.
The FFA implemented the $3000 transfer fee rule and only they can alter it – there is nothing the FFV can do about it other than complain about it to them like all the state federation do already.
The Men’s Summer League is extremely unlikely to go ahead now.
May 6th 2009 @ 4:48pm
MVDave said | May 6th 2009 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
The FFV certainly want control of the best Juniors taken away from the clubs, hence the Summer League for Juniors. Lots of teething problems with the new league. The Mens Summer League was actually supposed to start in 2008-09 but was dropped at the last minute…really it had no chance of going ahead anyway. The VPL clubs still have the power at this stage but the FFV is slowly chipping away. It is a power struggle which will define the future of state football in Victoria so whoever wins had better have the big picture in mind.
The pathway for up and coming footballers is a lot better than it used to be and with a new Victorian HAL team commencing in 2010 there will be twice as many opportunites. Also the VIS and AIS take the best players for their programs.
May 7th 2009 @ 1:43pm
David V. said | May 7th 2009 @ 1:43pm | Report comment
Because many of these clubs haven’t moved on with the times and some continue to serve as vehicles for nationalism that has nothing to do with Australia. Not all ethnic clubs are in this category though.
May 7th 2009 @ 1:55pm
Savvas Tzionis said | May 7th 2009 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
Whats the difference between Nationalism and retaining your cultural identity?
You must realise that each ethnically backed club, even if they were not Nationalistic, may still feel unwelcoming to many people not because they are pushing a (foreign) national agenda, but simply because as a culture, they are different from ‘mainstream’ Australia.
If you do not like it…tough. Form a club and enter the VPL and prove you can be better than these clubs!!
May 7th 2009 @ 2:20pm
zach said | May 7th 2009 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
totally disagree with the opportunities for youngsters today than yesterday.. from what some saw as nationalistic in the past has now become totally elitist…
Its a sad reflection than when melbourne heart enter to competition they will also look at ageing returning Aussies, which is not a bad idea, but they will also bring with them the ageing or 3rd and 4th tier foriegn players.. taking away opportunities… there is so much talent here its simply sad that it goes to waste….
getting back to the original point the 3k is a disgrace
May 7th 2009 @ 2:50pm
David V. said | May 7th 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
Because certain groups feel the need to carry on the flames of nationalistic hatred, even though the “mother” countries- especially in the Balkans- have tried to move on from it.
And promoting ethnic division will render a country ungovernable, just look at Belgium and Canada.