There has been much talk about future expansion of the A-League. After the 12th license was favourably given to an un-organised western Sydney consortium, Frank Lowy and Football Federation Australia have promised Canberra to be the first choice for the A-League’s 13th license.
But where is all this coming from? What idea or long term plan does the FFA have for vital club based expansion?
The FFA seems satisfied to randomly announce the 12th license to a consortium destined to failure. Many other bids had their time wasted by the FFA, who were apparently always going to give western Sydney a club over the far more developed Canberra bid, and other alternatives.
There was never any process or sticking to a plan, just what seemed to me to be a few people saying I want a team here before the AFL GWS club, and I don’t care if I alienate other markets. The reality is that the A-League cannot go to a 13 or 14 team competition unless the normal season format gets turned upside down.
As can be seen in Europe, there are some twelve team leagues, such as the Scottish Premier League and Danish Super League, and then virtually no fourteen team leagues. A jump from 12 to 16 clubs is a common sight across the continent, due to the scheduling requirements of each team playing either two or three times and getting a good, even number of matches in the regular season.
At the moment the A-League has eleven teams, each one playing every other team three times in the season calendar, so 30 games per team in the regular season. The Scottish Premier League has 33 matches in the regular season, with an extended period of the top six (and bottom six) clubs following.
If there was a 14 team league, there would be quite an irregular number of matches in normal season time. With either, teams playing each other twice to make 26 matches or teams playing three times to make 39 matches. This amount of games would be either too short or too long for the regular season, particularly for the A-League at this current time.
It is also unsustainable to keep adding teams onto the top tier of a football league. Wouldn’t it be better to create a B-League with all the clubs that cannot be included in a 10 or 12 team A-League? Give teams the chance to build their club from the ground up, instead of having the expectations of huge crowds and quality football from day one.
Expansion is necessary to keep football’s momentum rolling in Australia. Markets that aren’t swamped by rival code support which are waiting for professional football are obvious choices for a second tier B-League. A new B-League alongside a sustainable A-League would offer a long term future to football in this country, instead of a mashed up 14 team, stand-alone league trying to cover all the levels and standards of various clubs in one level of competition.
If the FFA keeps up this trend of one-level expansion and don’t see the need for a lower league soon, to cater for smaller clubs like North Queensland and Gold Coast United, as well as the many other potential bidders, we will see more hopeless expansion and failing clubs that can’t keep up with the top flight of professional football.
One day when the A-League and lower league(s) are established with a full body of clubs, the FFA should then look at expanding to a 16 club competition, but that should be a long-term goal as much needs to happen before then.
Aka
Guest
Do you think GWS were worried about the Rovers?
Mack
Guest
The FFA don't have anything to do with the ACL. If SBS wanted the ACL, they would pay more than Foxtel. It's that simple.
thinker
Guest
The only competition that should expand is the "new" summer NSWPL The expansion teams: Brisbane Strikers, Canberra FC, Melbourne Knights, Sth Melbourne If the smaller NSW clubs don't like it there is always the WSL Its time the FFA changed it's rules to allow freedom of movement of clubs so that the state feds have to improve their comps, Competitive federalism is where it is at The State league should also be able to buy a-league licences as a way of offering qualification or p&r to their state champions with out effecting the rest of the a-league
Timmuh
Guest
Not being a member of the so-called "football family", but still able to enjoy the game I do wonder what the FFA's long term strategy is in terms of the A-League. There are two basic ways they can go, either a high quality, high cost competition or one which has clubs in lots of places. (This isn't just an Association Football thing, but applies to all sports looking at expanding their major Austrlin competition.)) A widespread, high cost, competition is not realistically viable. Australia only has five large cities and two others of a decent size, Newcastle and the Gold Coast. Only the low cost option is really viable outside those centres, low population and generally less wealthy than in the major cities; and even on a per capita basis far less corporate interest. I really do not know which way the FFA is looking, others with a greater interest in the sport might. If it is the high quality model, which surely is the best for grounding future Socceroos, the league might almost be as big as it ever will be. If the cost base is not expected to rise much further, only then are places such as Canberra, Geelong and Hobart realistic options - even with better TV deals. But the FFA has to be clear, at least within itself if not the public, which option it chooses. It still seems to be trying to go both ways, medium and longer term that is not going to work.
JamesP
Guest
Most sensible peice of soccer news I have read all year... I remember whatching a video clip on TWG with Yankos and they were ridiculing the GWS bid - saying no one in Sydney knows about GWS, no one is Sydney knows about Sheedy...well they bloody well do know! "Rovers has no home ground, no CEO, no coach, no back room staff and most pertinently, no players. Nor have any been approached. " What an absolute disgrace. If I was Lowy, I would be banging down Demetrious door, offerign him 10 million to run the league... GWS will be thinking "you beauty"
westy
Guest
I reckon in the future we should have teams in Canberra, Tasmania, Wollongong, Chirstichurch/Auckland, Geelong and maybe a second team in either or both S.A and W.A, but obviously some of these regions will never see the light of day, but still some of them really deserve a team like Canberra and Wollongong.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Rellum, thanks tor the link. Not only Ben Buckley should be embarrassed but the likes of Charlie Yankos keeping quiet for so long without muttering his concerns on what was never a real attempt from the word go to get it moving.. He has damaged his own reputation being associated with this man Ian Rowden.. And that is a real shame he being one of Australia's finest captains..
Whites
Guest
Bring back Wollongong
Rellum
Roar Guru
Well it looks like expansion has been put on hold. Seems the FFA will put the Rovers out of their misery in early Nov. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1028613/Rovers-bid-to-be-scrapped
Rellum
Roar Guru
Definitely yes, if not them then One HD (if they are still around).
Australian Football
Roar Guru
Cpaaa-----yes I agree, the ACL should go to SBS; it's so bloody obvious.
moo cow
Guest
I sincerely hope a second division doesn't happen as it would kill so many clubs. Down the road? There's a possibility in 30 years it still mightn't not work, I know this wasn't the case with the J-league but this is Australia, a country which has too many sporting clubs, not enough football specific stadiums, not enough support for it's own domestic league. I hate painting a bleak picture on Australian football when I know for a fact football will succeed in Australia, with due patients but the outlook to expanding to another 16 teams into another league anytime (or in our lifetime for that matter ) is hard to see. Anyways, where do these 16 teams even play....Kalgoorlie?
djsinnema
Roar Rookie
Does this guy realise that in australia, we never do things the most logical way, with the 14 team league, we will simply just have the teams play each other home and away, followed by 4 or 5 rounds where they 4-5 teams a 3rd time
Cpaaa
Roar Pro
Exactly. Its the reason why every Club needs to fight for one of the Asian Champions spot. Australian Football dosnt end with a grand final, its only the beginning. Just on a side topic and in regard to the next tv deal. what id really like to see is that SBS has the rights to the Asian Champions League. No one can do it better than SBS, just like they televise the European Champions League. SBS has educated Australia about world Football for 30 years, specifically related to the European style. If it takes another 30 to educate us on Asian Football and the power clubs of the region then we would surely be blessed. At the moment the ACL is wasted space on Fox. Please FFA there is a real need for ACL matches to be handed over to a network that knows the business.
Midfielder
Guest
Gotta agreed AF...also IMO it has a lot to do with the league growing up...when its media get fully supportive, when the clubs learn how to engage with their park clubs... when FFA learn how to connect with the football family... Us football folk need like the other codes to work together instead of constantly pointing out what we see as the other guys faults...
Australian Football
Roar Guru
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from top 10 Asian leagues joined with two more clubs who qualified through the playoffs. The champions receive about US$2.25 million in prize money (specific amount depends on record from the group stage) and a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup at the end of the year. Starting 2009 season, the defending champion no longer receives an automatic berth, forcing them to qualify through their respective domestic league or cup competition. However, both 2008 champions, Gamba Osaka, and 2009 champions, Pohang Steelers, both managed to qualify for the following season. The qualifying round starts in late February and the single-match final takes place in early November at a neutral venue. In 2010, the qualifying rounds will start bit early, due to 2010 World Cup in the summer. Pohang Steelers is currently the most successful club in the competition's history, having won their third title in 2009. League-wise, the Korean K-League has 8 titles and is the most successful league competition followed by the Japanese J. League which has 5 previous winners. In the last four season (2006–2009), both J and K League has captured 2 titles each, showing the dominance by the Eastern clubs. This article above is the reason why we need to expand to at least a 12 team league. The HAL needs 12 teams so it can be given four ACL spots. The prise money is enormous with all teams that qualify have all their traveling and accommodation expenses paid for. They also keep their home gate receipts. It is then also possible for a successful Australian club to go on further to play in the playoffs of the FIFA World Club Cup Championships against the best club teams in the world with more prize money to be had from FIFA.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Whites All good points and all relevant. However, prepare to in effect called an idiot by certain Soccer fans when they arrive. Rational thinking isn't what some want to see.
Whites
Guest
1.This is not europe. Who is going to pay for a 2nd division? The A-league doesn't even pay its way yet. 2.Don't call a possible second division the B-League. Call it the A-League 2 or anything else other then the B-League. 3.Australia's 23million people already support 50 full-time professional football clubs. No european country of Australia's size supports so many clubs. 4.With an FFA Cup, the ACL and the distance teams have to travel there is no problem with a 26 round comp. 5.The FFA do have to be more careful in selecting the areas of expansion. Nominate an area for expansion and work with the local football community to build a solid base for the new team.
Hooplah
Guest
Why do journalists have to keep making up their own rules, like a 14 team does not work because it does not work in Lithuania? A load of tripe. Ultimately the market will decide and we have a finals series and ACL on top so 26 games a season is sufficient. Please STOP! just reeling off what happens in Europe BLAH BLAH BLAH... It is NOT Europe here. If it were we would have 4 pro divisions and 100 odd clubs with soccer being the biggest specatator sport in the land.