Gold Coast United FC head coach and director of football, Miron Bleiberg (centre) celebrates with Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO Ben Buckley (right) and Gold Coast United CEO Clive Mensink (left). AAP Image/Dave Hunt
Earlier this week, I opined about the lack of creativity in the A-League’s managerial and administrative ranks. Now, with the news that South Melbourne FC are on the verge of being included in this year’s Singapore FA Cup, I know where most of football’s most creative and brightest have ended up.
In the state leagues.
In an article running on the au.fourfourtwo website, Aidan Ormand reveals that: “the idea has the support of the Singapore FA and that the historic move could be signed off within days,” with Football Federation Australia backing set to follow on Monday.
First it was a player exodus from Australia to Asia and now it seems whole clubs are heading abroad in search of better opportunities.
South Melbourne Chairman Nick Galatas told Ormand that: “We believe this is a positive for Australian football as it strengthens our nation’s links within our own confederation the AFC.
“At the same time it gives clubs outside the A-League an opportunity to compete in a new competition – that’s exciting for the players and no doubt will be embraced by our fan-base.
“It will strengthen Australia’s second tier clubs and therefore strengthen our state leagues. What’s more, we don’t yet have an FA Cup style competition or a B-League here in Australia.”
South Melbourne’s “out of the box” thinking doesn’t stop there, either.
Currently the former NSL club are giving away double passes to their final game at Bob Jane Stadium for anyone who is interested.
Not only will this initiative increase one off attendance and potentially help to lift future crowd figures, it’s also a sign of a proud club acknowledging its past. Something our national governing body has regularly failed to do.
Add in South’s impressive online presence, including podcasts, social media activity and live game updates, and there’s some exciting and creative thinking going on behind the scenes at Bob Jane Stadium.
Let’s get back to the Singporean FA Cup idea, though.
While it might seem a little odd for a Victorian club to be seeking a higher level of football in South East Asia, with FFA more or less ignoring the desire of club’s like South Melbourne for better football opportunities, why shouldn’t they?
My only gripe is that our former NSL clubs have been so neglected by FFA that there’s become a need for them to head overseas in search of greener pastures.
Its becoming clear that FFA’s focus on all things “World Cup” is starting to come at the expense of the game’s health back home.
So as FFA puts aside its national cup competition concept to focus on World Cup bids and campaigns, and while football fans around the country continue to clamour for a knockout competition, South Melbourne have sourced their own alternative.
Brilliant.
Ben Buckley it’s over to you.
Mahony
Guest
The "SC" in football team names, particularly the European ones, often stands for "Sports / Sporting Club" - was this the case for South Melbourne when/if it used this suffix?
Rellum
Roar Guru
The following is cut and pasted from the Heart forum explaining why I following the Hearts. "The Roar were supposed to be my team. But having to go through all the rubbish with a new club that seemed to do everything it could it alienate locals, names, ridiculous colours, no attempt to link with the local clubs who hated the Lions. Last year, when that had the chance to remake themselves into more of a Brisbane club, was their last chance with me, and when all they could do was change the name, that was the final straw. I have been living in in Melbourne for a few years now, and having no Brisbane team to support the Heart have come along at the right time and seem to be doing everything right." There are many people living in Melbourne with many varied reasons to support the Heart over the Victory.
MV Dave
Guest
What began as a difficult day seems to be ending well for football fans in Oz. CGU to continue, Archie Fraser appointed "special envoy' to the 3 Queensland clubs and now a new consortium to take control of Adelaide United (from 442 website); http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/126262,new-owners-for-adelaide-united.aspx
Axel V
Roar Rookie
Rellum, I don't understand, how come you don't go for the Victory? and would you support the Hearts? If so, why?
Axel V
Roar Rookie
Growing at 5,000-10,000 per week? That's 260,000- 520,000 per year! When I saw the figures a year or 2 ago, Queensland had by far the largest percentage of growth in Australia, but in actual numbers, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales were all very close in terms of actual numbers. Wait... Why is this important? :P As for the Mallee and Gippsland, lets not go there! ;) (double meaning!)
pezz
Guest
they havnt folded yet, rumours are flying everywhere but a statement was released that they are still breathing.... i think clive palmer just wants someone else to help fund his little project
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
MV are the succes of the A league no denying it. Their the shining example of how to run and support an A league team. If not for Melbourne showing the potential of football in this country then I think investors and media would be death riding the A league. Until this year when it all went to **** though Brisbane were always in the top 2 crowd average wise (beat Melbourne in season 1). Not as big a difference as you and Killer are making out. So yeh good work Melbourne but considering the difference in quality between the management of the Roar and MV it’s hardly an inditement on the level of support for Football in QLD. Anyway I have to go and tend to my mullet as there is no way I’m letting Rob beat me two years in a row.
Rellum
Roar Guru
"If you support Australian Football and you live in Victoria, you go for the Victory." I live in Melbourne and support Australian Football, but I am sure as hell not going to go for the Victory. Don't you think a comment like that is just a tad arrogant?
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
Southeast Queensland is growing at a rate of around 5-10 thousand people per week, so the influx of new people to Victoria is, I doubt, as great as that. Many of the migrants north are from Victoria and NSW - racing up here to get away from the miserable cold you guys endure for half the year. Places like Townsville and Cairns have massive influxes of new residents each year, and with the mineral and gas boom occurring in more and more places in Queensland these days, new poeple are moving into Queensland every year. That redneck argument about Queensland is old and tired. And as for your "geological barriers argument, is there any chance that, say, the good folk in the Malee region or in some of those little towns in Gippsland, have had a massive in-migration of "fresh" genes in the last few decades? ;-)
Axel V
Roar Rookie
How can Victoria possibly be inbred? Inbreeding occurs in isolated area's with a small population and lack of variation in the gene pool, often occured by geological barriers (long distance caused by desert or sea like in Queensland or Tasmania :)). Victoria is closley linked to most of Australia and has the biggest influx of new people (From Oversea's and within Australia) coming in.
Lu
Guest
Archies the Marquee player.. and he'd be out for most of the season.. Injury replacement Marquee? Just need a quality finisher that's not Robbie Kruse and it could be very very interesting.. Shane Smeltz isn't doing anything.. lol
Axel V
Roar Rookie
More people might play football in Queensland than in Victoria, but more people support sport in Victoria than in Queensland. For a club to be sustainable, you need support. However i can see the Melbourne Hearts being a total flop (By Victorian standards), Who are they appealing to? If you support Australian Football and you live in Victoria, you go for the Victory.
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
I doubt the Beach would - especially after the stick they gave the Roar all season. They were total (insert expletive here) at the two games I watched at Suncorp Stadium. I dare say they wouldn't be welcome by a lot of the Roar fans. Certainly I have no love for them. But the fans that switched allegiance due to the GC team being closer to home might, and they would be welcome.
Axel V
Roar Rookie
It's true, i also use to have a South Melbourne S.C poster. And it had South Melbourne S.C on it's logo in 1999.
whiskeymac
Guest
ifit wasnt salary capped a culina-hernandez pairing in midfield wld be interesting too.
Subbuteo Tragic
Guest
We need to focus on the bread and butter of the Aleague. Has anyone thought what happens if (shock horror) we go out early in the World Cup, and win neither of the World Cup bids? As for the states, we need to cultivate the state leagues, because where else are ALeague clubs going to get their players!!
Lu
Guest
Memo to Melbourne Heart, get Jason Culina on the phone now!!!! He'd be more of a Marquee player than a returning Skoko..
MV Dave
Guest
FP2 It looks like the FFA have finally made a decent move putting in a 'Special Envoy' Archie Fraser to specifically look after the 3 Queensland teams...hopefully this means all 3 will have long term futures in HAL.
Football Person 2
Roar Pro
Kinda lost on whether or not i like there not being a Gold Coast side. The rivalry could have been great in ten years time, but I just can't take seeing 4000 at skilled. ( tho 8000 at suncorp still hurts) All this talk of Brisbane's troubles are really starting to depress me.... :( :( :( :( :( I wonder what the GCU fans that took up Palmer's offer of switching clubs are thinking now :) :) :) :)
whiskeymac
Guest
"while Palmer looks to have signed the death warrant for his own club, his wealth could help save another, with one of his companies, Queensland Nickel, believed to be ready to upgrade its deal as major sponsor of North Queensland Fury. " so does this make him a saviour? a few conflicting reports out there on GCU, will be interesting to see what happens when the dust settles (or the fire is put out because there's a lot of smoke clouding events at the moment (apologies for terrible mishmash of cliched sayings) . Fowler to SFC gone under the radar media wise? if GCU fold, wd the Beach support the Roar? a few 1000 more in the crowd wldnt hurt their bottom line....