Wise words from Krayem.
And while he and the Fury advisory board were yesterday calling for a review into the FFA’s decision to axe the Fury, more importantly, an independent inquiry is required into the whole process of the expansion club’s existence and ultimate failure.
This issue goes beyond North Queensland Fury. It is about the viability of the whole league and its clubs under the current ownership model.
Fury fans may say the club didn’t fail and were victims of the FFA’s unfair treatment. But the reality is the day former owner Don Matheson spoke about potentially pulling his money out of the Townsville-based club, its future looked grim.
Unfortunately Nathan Tinkler’s don’t grow on palm trees and it was never going to be easy for a club based in a Far North Queensland city of less than 200,000 to find a ‘white knight’ owner to foot the bill for the club and cover their losses.
The same must be said for any regional area the FFA might have considered expanding to. And that’s an important question about the future of the A-League and its current ownership model.
On the evidence of the Fury, in regional centres it can’t work and that’s damning for any hope the A-League has about expansion.
But expansion seems a long way off for the A-League right now. Surely right now it’s about consolidation.
But on the evidence of the current struggles of several franchises in big cities who are losing money and relying on the FFA’s financial support, it isn’t working.
In the long-term, it doesn’t appear sustainable and that’s the biggest issue facing the A-League.
To emphasise the point, there must be concerns about Fury’s fellow expansion club Gold Coast United too, who are simply relying on owner Clive Palmer’s money, as there’s little local support. If and when Palmer decides he’s had enough with his toy thing, it’s hard to see GCU continuing to exist.
As my colleague on The Roar, Adrian Musolino, explained yesterday: “Expanding into Gold Coast and North Queensland seemingly had nothing to do with significant market research or the overwhelming desire for an A-League franchise in those regions, but more to do with the deep pockets of Clive Palmer and Don Matheson respectively.”
Where’s the strategy?
Another important question is could the Fury have survived if its mooted community-based ownership model had been put into place if the FFA covered them for next season? We’ll never know now.
But an independent review could help us get a clearer idea.
Indeed, as Craig Foster and Les Murray said on Wednesday’s Shootout program on The World Game a lot of hard questions need to be asked of the FFA.
The strategy for A-League clubs and their sustainability appears to be flawed. And the FFA are short on solutions as the Fury example shows, despite NQF’s best attempts at a community-based model.
And that’s what needs to happen because the A-League is heading down a dangerous path, without any clear plan for escape.
After deciding not to invest the required $2m in NQF for next season, FFA CEO Ben Buckley said: “We need to concentrate our resources on the growth, promotion and stability of the entire Hyundai A-League competition.”
A good start would be putting that $2m to good use by initiating an independent review into the failure of the Fury and applying it for the sake of any hope of future expansion but more pertinently the current consolidation of the league.
It’s been a sad week for the A-League where, after a weekend which provided two fantastic and thrilling finals, the focus has quickly turned to the drama surrounding the axing of the Fury.
It’s a shame football has to take a backseat to these off-field issues, but the reality is they need to be addressed and the FFA can’t wash their hands and walk away.
The Fury’s failure shows the FFA needs to be proactive about the future of the A-League and re-evaluate its strategy. They owe the Fury that, at least.
David V.
Guest
Was 2 additional QLD teams really priority when Western Sydney, Canberra and Wollongong may have warranted teams before them?
Pete
Guest
Hmmm, wise words. Lesson #1 - enrol in an English grammar course ASAP. "take whatever learnings"?????????
lion
Guest
It is simple the a league concept is unreal for the amount of supporters that follow the game in this country. This is a real problem for the viability of the game is seriously in the air? Do the rest of Australia a favour FFA and don't put false hopes in other areas that expansion is what you want. We all want in life what we get are two different things.
TomC
Guest
Spending $2m on an inquiry is a bit extravagant, isn't it? The article makes the important point though, that the FFA need a clear, consistent strategy for either growth or consolidation. Without stability and transparency investors and communities will be reluctant to get behind new clubs or support existing ones.
jtg
Guest
O'Neil said to the Fury "Come Play"and develop the game in Australia. Buckley the Liar said "F.. Off!!!" let's take it back to the capital cities and remove the opportunity for the kids.
whiskeymac
Guest
time for some answers from FFA anda clear plan. Which leads us to the 'blue print" they are going to unveil soon. Will it have the answers or will it be a dossier of mission statements? The FFA have got some things right, but they got the expansion wrong and underestimated, it seems from the arm chair anyway, the impact the WC bids wld have domestically. Let's hope they, the FFA, evolve and adapt more readily than they appear to be doing in addressing the games development as it goes through its different stages of growth and retraction.
jamesb
Guest
Maybe it wasn't the right time for Ben Buckley to say to North Queensland Fury "Come Play"
jtg
Guest
Spend the $2million on an independanct review instead.......how stupid is that?? The problem here is what the FFA sid they were going to do and what they did!!! Then why were so many local businesses in Townsville, that sit in the Western Grandstand, not even approached by Rabieh to put money into the community owned model?? What was he doing?? I cannot work out how grown men from FFA and Fury getting paid hundreds and thousands of dollars could not even get a basic communication right between each other?? I suspect the FFA and Buckley are LIARS. At the same time I would really like Rabieh to explain what happened? He kept telling us he has the money and don’t worry about it. Where is Mr Frank Lowy? His silence is deafening…I assume he is doing deals behind closed doors for the second sydney team??? The kids in North Queensland have had their hearts absolutely ripped out by these supposed adults. I really hope the truth comes out about the FFA and Fury management. At the same time if Rabieh had any heart he would be continuing the drive for community ownership this season to present to the FFA. But his interview on Foxsports showed last night that he has no passion about the game!! Back to the Port Authority board of directors you go. Why individuals who have/had no involvement in football are running the show beggars belief?? Benji Marshall was announced the face of Rugby League today. May I suggest Ben Buckley be awarded the face of AFL and Rugby league. He has done a wonderful job for them!! To the other A league teams don’t get too smug as your team may be next!!!