The A-League’s salary cap has come under serious scrutiny over the league’s short history. However, it is a crucial element for the competition’s success.
After two weeks of season 2010/11, all clubs have appeared at least once and the promising news for fans is that it looks like we have a tight and tense season on our hands.
On any given day, each club can be confident of taking the field and bringing home three points. This has to be a good thing for the fans and by extension crowd figures, which, like it or not, will be used week in week out in assessment of the A-League’s growing or fledgling popularity.
With no salary cap in place, a division will be created between the ‘bigger’ clubs and the rest of the league.
As soon as this happens, especially within Australia’s sporting landscape whereby football is looking to rapidly grow its supporter base, the league is as good as dead.
Over the weekend we saw upsets of the Melbourne Victory and last season’s double winners Sydney FC.
Perth Glory and North Queensland Fury took it right up to and won their respective battles against the two sides who own four of the five league Championships after 5 seasons of the A-League.
The Fury are the perfect example of the type of club who can thrive under the salary cap, promoting equality throughout the competition. On the other hand, they are also a good example of a club who could quickly find themselves on the scrap heap if the league’s powerhouses are allowed to dominate and monopolise the market.
North Queensland have made a habit of defying the odds in their short life and after being written off after three straight losses to start their inaugural season, the then Robbie Fowler led side battled on to finish a respectable seventh in a campaign full of grit and determination.
After a tumultuous off season almost leading to extinction, a largely new playing roster under the tutelage of unknown Czech coach Franz Straka, the boys from Townsville were once again written off by experts before Version 6 of the A-League.
However, once again they have struck back, this time with two extremely promising performances to open their second league campaign.
If this form can continue and lead to a finals berth, I believe the Fury can harness the support of Townsville and the surrounds and build a strong supporter base. The aim should be, by the end of the season, to be bringing in crowds of around nine to ten thousand.
This can be achieved by the ‘smaller’ clubs thanks to the competitiveness of the league where everyone is in with a fighting chance. There is proof in the pudding.
The Newcastle Jets connected with fans in the Hunter and constantly drew crowds of over 10,000 in season 2007/08. This culminated in Major Semi Final berth which saw 22,960 pack into EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Let’s hope that the Fury under the colourful personality of Franz Straka can do the same.
If they do, it will be a major victory for the club and the Football Federation Australia, not to mention an amazing turn around in the fortunes for a club that was on the canvas.
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