Melbourne Victory’s Archie Thompson (right) walks past as the Central Coast Mariners players celebrate winning round 1 of the 2009/10 A-League season in Melbourne, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009. The Mariners beat Victory 2-0. AAP Image/Joe Castro
The A2-League, or whatever the second division mentioned by Frank Lowy at the Melbourne Victory business luncheon will be called, needs to be forgotten. With crowds fading across the country, it’s the last thing the game needs, even if it is a long-term possibility.
Put simply, it’s not a realistic possibility considering the fragile state the code is in.
Relegation to the second division would be a potentially fatal blow to an A-League club. They aren’t secure enough in their respective markets to sustain such demotion.
See the Newcastle Jets as an example of how great the impact of poor form is on crowd figures. The Jets enjoy a large media profile in the region, and the memories of their championship success are not too distant. Yet crowds have plummeted with inconsistent results.
Just imagine what relegation to a second division would do to the franchise.
Also, how will the FFA be able to sustain two leagues and all these extra clubs considering the current financial state of the game?
Promotion and relegation may be important for Australian football’s global recognition, especially as it argues its case for the World Cup bid, but the reality of the A-League’s status precludes our system being modelled on countries in which the game has a larger footprint.
The FFA needs to accept this point, perhaps looking to the MLS over in America as a guide. The MLS has operated for a longer period of time than the A-League, yet it still has no second division. It knows its franchises could not sustain such a blow.
However, there is an obvious concept the FFA could embrace to help the A-League reach a wider audience while helping to appease the international football community that’s supposedly demanding an expansion of the code’s foundations.
The governing body has mooted an FFA Cup competition in the past, akin to England’s FA Cup. However, the concept seems to have been shelved with Lowy’s intimation showing that a second division is the priority before a Cup competition.
But, even if Mr. Lowy is determined on a second division one day, the FFA Cup could act as a prelude to the A2-League, strengthening and promoting the various state leagues, reconnecting ‘old soccer’ with ‘new football’. It would, crucially, help strengthen the state league level of the Australian game and help prepare it for assimilation into a wider national structure.
Why create new clubs from scratch when so many already exist?
The potential of an FFA Cup is endless.
As Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg told the Courier Mail, such a concept “could re-connect the parties” of the game at all levels.
It would be a symbolic union between A-League franchises and clubs that have a direct connection to the grassroots of the game, and some of whom who played such a large part in Australian football history.
When Lowy discussed the prospect of a second division, he said, “The larger competition will generate greater interest around the country, not just in isolated pockets of Australia, but a truly national game”
The FFA Cup would achieve this, with clubs already in existence, while A-League clubs would benefit from increased exposure in their respective communities. We all know they haven’t done a good enough job in connecting with many of these football communities. This is the perfect opportunity to work side-by-side with local clubs to strengthen the foundations of the code.
And crucially, as opposed to the second division talk, it protects the A-League franchises from the possibility of relegation, therefore ensuring their long-term economic sustainability.
There will be a visible connection to all tiers of the game.
An FFA Cup needs to be put on the FFA’s agenda; long before the second division is formulated.
Footbal Person
Guest
I would much rather the second division. I have gone over the possibility of an elite league in my head, the crowds are huge.......but, its eerily quite, no singing,no passion. I fear this would become a novelty league like the "red rocket" Big Bash garbage. Thats just my opinion on the subject, after all this is a sports OPINION site :)
gurudoright
Guest
It is quite simple to have a FFA cup in the way Midfielder has stated but not to that extreme. Yes, the 12 (by the time it would be up and running)Aleague teams joined by 4 qualifers coming from a random draw playoff between the 6 state leagues or cup winners and the 2 territory's winners . This way every year there could be new teams in the cup without having the expense of having lots of teams that would burden the FFA with the cost. When people talk about the cost about flying these semi pro clubs around the country think of it this way, If a NSW super league team makes it into the main draw after its play off game it has a 1 in 3 chance of playing a local game with Newcastle, Central Coast, Sydney FC and the Rovers all under 2 hours by car. To add further to this they would have a 2 out of 3 chance of playing a team within a one hour flight if you add the 4 NSW team with Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne Victory and Heart so the expense isn't that great for the 4 qualifying teams. The expense for the state league teams could come from the gates with teams sharing gates in a FFA cup. It sounds unfair to the big teams who get big crowds but what if one team draws 4 home ties all the way to the final recieving all the gates and their oppenent faced all away games to reach the final yet has received no financial gain by being drawn to play away in their 4 cup ties. This way sounds more fair Having a FFA cup could add to the FFA expenses in the short term with the set up cost but in the same sense in the long run it could also be a finanical bonus as an added product to sell when tv rights deals need to be signed. The only problem with a cup would be where would the final be played?
person
Guest
an FFA cup could easily work but it'd be massively reliant on FFA/sponsor money. every participating club past local level would have to receive tavel subsidies. that is the only real barrier.. the subsidy would increase depending on distance travelled/stage of the competition. a certain percentage of the subsidy could be kept by the club as prize money. you'd have regional clubs playing off (i travel up t 2 hours to play my local teams so it is not a big idea) with one eventual winner from each 'region' you'd have to develop a ranking structure of every senior league in the country IT IS definately do-able if the money is there .. just have to wait for this renogotiated FOX deal.
Michael Turner
Guest
I agree with you on all accounts. I reckon the A-League should abandon the franchise model if the club doesn't want it, and just use current clubs in state leagues. Personally, there are many things the FFA have done wrong, but many have done right. The salary cap should be increased and the FFA members on the board of clubs, can knock a bid down if it endangers a club's financial security. Anyways that my view, bring on FFA Cup, or seperate A2 league with State Leaugue no P and R
Midfielder
Guest
I can tell you how the FA cup will work ... this was discussed by FFA last year... the problem they have is when to start it... This year the early start of the A-League may effect when it starts .... Do you play at the end of the winter comps or the start of the following year in competition... But to how it works.... roughly 800 teams... every premier level 1 team can enter... Play offs will be home and away with teams staying local .. then regional ... then state ... then national... Weeks 1 & 2 ..... 800 to to 400 teams Weeks 3 & 4 ..... 400 teams to 140 (approx) + introduce the state teams roughly 60 Weeks 5 & 6 ....200 teams to 100 teams Weeks 6 & 7 ... 100 teams to 52 teams + introduce 12 A-League teams Weeks 8 & 9 --- 64 teams to 32 teams Weeks 10 & 11 ... 32 teams to 16 teams Weeks 12 & 13 ... 16 teams to 8 teams Weeks 14 & 15 ... 8 teams to 4 teams Week 16 & 17 ... 4 teams to 2 teams Week 18 ..... final Chief problem is .. starting when lots of issues ... like if you start at the end of the A-League season how do sides keep their teams together...if at the start of the A-League season there is no gain in weeks ...
Timmuh
Roar Guru
The early regions don't have to be as big as a state. And there would be clubs who don't wish to participate, and others for who any set up would be impossible due to distance. The point would be to make it as inclusive as possible. That might mean starting with five or six regions in Queensland for example. Its quite possibly still not viable. Or may be just not viable to include country areas, NT or Tasmania. There is also another big difference between Australia and other nations. In, for example, England people follow their club. If they follow Woking they don't also follow West Ham; they certainly watch EPL but their heart is with their club. Australian soccer would be expecting people to follow both Melbourne Heart (such a bad name, hopefully they won't actually use it) and South Melbourne, and then put them up against each other ... it is perhaps not such a great move to force people to choose between clubs like that.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Rovers will do okay I think, especially if they are based at Parra stadium Gold Coast would now kill to be linked with the Titans, they can thank Palmer for that, Searle wanted a buddy partnership to
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
An FA cup has the same problems without the promotion-relegation of state teams. Australian clubs in the state-leagues simply couldn't finance a cup run.
megatron
Guest
Well an FA Cup would avoid these problems at least.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
I hate to piss on your parade but this isn't feasible either. So one season, a 14th club from one of the state leagues gets promoted? Their squad would never be able to cope with the rigours of the A-League and the FFA would have to plough too much money into one club per season to make them the least bit competitive and as we've seen too often, you can't just buy players and expect them to be a team. Then what happens after season one? Does this promoted team stay up or do we go through the whole shennanigans again and another state team comes up into the 14th spot? What if the other state-team doesn't finish last but heaven forbid mid-table, do we still relegate them to be "fair" to the system or do we relegate the last placed team, some established A-League franchise? Both are massive conundrums which look unsolvable at first glance. So in the case they are automatically relegated, this team goes back to the state-league with players they could never afford and a huge financial advantage from the previous season, that is if they haven't blown it all on wages. I think this would tear these promoted teams apart, they'd hit the earth with a massive thud as the finances are pulled and crowds dwindle when they go back into their state-league.
megatron
Guest
I still think Lowy knows that the A2 League is impossible and it's all talk to help convince Fifa, afc etc that it could happen one day. I also think the reason an Fa Cup hasn't happened is cause of the fear of bringing in the ethnic clubs into the new football setup. Sad really.
NUFCMVFC
Guest
Good article, a 2nd division won't work for some time, unless you somewhat re-engage all the "old Soccer" people bit I don't think Frank would want to do that FFA Cup is needed more IMO, better way to re-engage and something the community wants more, plus a way to engage and bridge the strength of football in this country, which is at grassroots level One wonders if this is just to tick a box on the AFC pro League committees checklist for ACL spots, it isn't worth cripplingly over extending ourselves and there is a need for pragmatism, or if this is all talk to show we were serious, but then say ti wasn't practical?
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I could actually imagine that happening with Rovers because they are in West Sydney where there a few teams to work with and there probably more receptive to such an idea because they feel their rivals are the other NRL clubs rather than a summer football team. Storm, MV and the Rebels could also do something similar. In the regional markets I could understand the Rugby league boys not feeling the urge to cooperate with a new competitor, which is fair enough.
megatron
Guest
Makes sense, especially in that market, Gold Coast seem to have been too arrogant to work with other clubs in their market
megatron
Guest
Teffers that is actually a brilliant idea. It protects the A-League clubs and gives the state league clubs something to aspire to will adding a new ingredient to each new season.
Dom
Guest
Thats a really good idea. The winner could have a place in the AFC champions league the following season. Or that AFC cup thing they are trying to model on the Uefa cup
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Some A-League clubs have gone about recruiting supporters the wrong way. Given that A-League crossover into the AFL/NRL seasons is small, they should be actively targeting that support to also attend A-League games. Maybe even get a deal where if you are a member of let's say the North Queensland Cowboys you get a discount (offered via the NRL club). As well as creating areas in the club supporter forums for AFL/NRL talk.
constantine
Guest
true, asian is a trumpcard.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Joe Wogs are allowed to use the word. You're right - I reckon it's a huge attraction - but does the FFA agree??
Joe FC
Guest
Teffers you definately get the prize for lateral thinking. Pippinu as for letting the wogs back in (you certainly do call a spade a spade) that would have to be the attraction of a cup competition; Marconi v Sydney FC, Melbourne Knights v Melbourne Victory. No lack of interest in those matches.