Not even the exciting football the Matildas have been dishing up at the 2011 World Cup is providing the labyrinth of columnists and journalists puttering around at home with enough of a distraction from the monolith that is the Kewell saga.
We all love the Maildas, but they don’t yet hold the interest of editors and bean counters at media outlets across the country to invest in sending their reporters to a far off continent. Instead they have to settle for scrap bits and teleconferences.
All the while the Kewell debate rages on, whipped up into a frenzy by the unlicensed but thoroughly effective player agent that is Bernie Mandic.
It’s a story I at first followed with an interest that has now turned into resentment.
The turning point for me was when the day after journalists took part in mocking the proposed Kewell profit share deal on Twitter last Monday, a colleague of mine publically called Kewell’s wife and family “tacky”.
How did what could be, and I am still very confident will be, the biggest signing in the A-League’s history become permeated by such aggression?
Right now anger, often founded on misinformation or at least misunderstanding, is spilling forth via column inches, twitter diatribes and on fan forums. Everyone has an opinion.
It reminds me of the atmosphere of contempt that followed the awarding of the 2022 World Cup hosting rights to Qatar.
The thing is unlike in December last year we’re dealing with potentially good news and not the possibility that both the Australian and global football public had been conned.
So here is my plea to the football community – take a step back, consider all the facts and make a reasoned judgement. There is an important debate to be had here but not one that requires the vicious hyperbole that’s been on show this week.
The Kewell deal:
– Melbourne Victory have reportedly offered Kewell a profit share deal in which the Socceroo would receive 80% of the first million dollars in additional profit above an agreed upon average of membership, gate takings and Kewell related merchandise. He would then receive 90% of any other profits beyond that.
It’s also understood Kewell has agreed terms with Sydney FC though the specifics of that deal remain unknown.
– FFA, keen to utilise the phenomenally large profile that only Kewell wields, have offered to help fund any possible deal by using Kewell as a part of their marketing and promotions.
The peak body originally offered the 32-year-old an up front fee of $250,000 which the player’s agent rejected, offering a 70/30 split of all additional profits above an agreed average of away gate takings. This deal would potentially also have an image rights component.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Although in fairness, on Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd do sing: Money is the root of all evil (today)
apaway
Guest
What Kewell's manager has asked for IS unprecedented, Tom, because in a way, the player himself takes the ultimate responsibility for proving his worth as a drawcard. And Harry Kewell playing in the A-League is unprecedented.
apaway
Guest
Well, Phutbol, your maths depends on how the "average" crowds are worked out. I could see a scenario whereby the "average" becomes the figure for the corresponding fixture the previoius season (in the case of the Melbourne derby. That being the case, unless it is moved to Etihad, there wouldn't be that much of an increase because AAMI Park was close to full. Not saying this is how it IS, but simply speculating that if negotiations are still progressing, those would be the points I'd be making from the FFA side of things.
PeterK
Guest
Does anyone remember the kefuffle when Robbie Fowler was benched for one match at NQ Fury? Mind you, as a Fury Fan, I agreed with the benching at the time.
PeterK
Guest
Steve, it sounds like you've been bitten by the "Tall Poppy" bug to which Melanie referred!
PeterK
Guest
Matt F, there's much about revenues and expenditures which neither FFA nor the clubs are revealing to anyone -- at least as far as I know. Ask any of us here in NQ! I believe that host clubs get nothing from sales of match-day programmes, nor do they get anything from sales of merchandise, but I'd love to be corrected on that. Does ANYONE know whether the hosting clubs currently keep all the gate receipts, or whether they are shared with the visiting club and/or FFA? Fury Fan Forever!
PeterK
Guest
Weren't they absolutely the best!
PeterK
Guest
Uncle Bob, I hate being a pedant, but I can't help myself. Please forgive me that it is your post which prompts my reaction this time, but it's one which is so often misquoted, and it gives absolutely the wrong impression when so misquoted. However, I agree with your general sentiment 100%. The correct quote is effectively that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil, and I believe that that is actually what you meant too. You and others probably don't need me to tell you that a hammer is not in itself evil, but of course if used for a murder then that USE of it is definitely evil. Similarly, money itself is neither evil nor good -- it's how we view and use these things which is the evil or good. If Harry is guilty here, then he might have trouble getting through those pearly gates eh?
steve h
Guest
he is worth millions as tt is and doesnt need anymore!
NUFCMVFC
Guest
Looked at the ABC interview tonight re SBS, have to say you look nothing like your profile pic Davidde
Michael
Guest
You've pointed out one of the many obvious no-brainers. Good one.
Roger
Guest
No worries Realfootall, we at MVFC will 'bear' the weight of this 'curse', no problems at all.
Realfootball
Guest
The A-League will be just fine without Harry. At almost 33, he's at the end of his tether as a footballer anyway. Would I want him at my beloved Roar? Well, the problem is that he'd have to be picked regardless of form. That wouldn't be good for any team. And he'd be earning a value equal to the whole salary cap for the rest of the team. Also not good for any team. On balance, I think I'd rather another club had to deal with those issues.
Stevo
Guest
"Harry Kewell: arguably Australia's best-known soccer player of his generation who has made tens of millions playing in the English Premier League for the likes of Leeds and Liverpool. In 2009 he earned $9.5 million with Turkish club Galatasaray. The BRW claims $54 million " http://www.maynereport.com/articles/2007/07/17-2225-719.html#k1 That's a very nice little earner he's been on while the mug punter who goes to games and buys the shirts is on the average wage or there abouts of $70,000. So if people are a little bemused and somewhat upset by the circus then I think easy to understand. I think people object to being treated as simpletons by Mandic/Kewell whose view appears to be "Yeah, lets get the cash then we'll show up and the punters will forget how we screwed them and the league"
Matt F
Guest
agree 100% re the Matildas. Just imagine how good this young side coulld be in 4 years time! Also at 9pm (or is it 10pm?) the match is in a much friendlier time slot
Matt F
Guest
It's a strange one. I think it benefits the club because the only way Kewell makes serious cash is if he does actually boost the clubs income. If kewell brings in an extra $1million the club would still keep 200k of that. If kewell were to play for Melbourne Victory but melbourne's merchandise, sponsorship, attendace revenues etc. stayed fairly flat he wouldn't get anything so they'd have a player of Kewell's quality (assuming fitness is ok) for much less then they would if he had a standard wage. I guess the other theory would be if the crowds come to see kewell and end up in turn likeing what they see on the field they may stay with the club and the A-league long-term after he goes, though there's no guarantee of that. Though the whole deal does seem very complicated........ I'm still really confused about the 70/30 split as well. Does that money come from FFA profit and not the opposition club? I didn't even know the FFA took a cut of home and away gate receipts. Even then how much can it really be?
Phutbol
Guest
While i do support the capture of HK. one point JoMa makes is pertinent. Hearts average crowd i think is around 8-10k, with this figure significantly bolstered by the 2 25k+ crowds it gets to the derby games... if H's (at FFA's cost, not Heart's mind you) payoff is equal to 70% of the increase above Hearts average crowd, assuming average ticket price of $25, and derby attendances 15k above the season average, he then gets just for the 2 derby games: (2 x (15,000 x $25)) x 70%....... paid for by FFA. By my reckoning thats about $525,000 just for those 2 games, when that many actually went to the corresponding fixture last year! Money for nothing perhaps?? if the increase is measured against the same fixture the previous year then that seems reasonable. but if measured against the average of the away club, when there are known 'blockbusters' that always pull more people it seems a bit rich. Maybe FFA are smarter than a lot of people give them credit for.....
nordozzz
Roar Guru
re public perception ... i think that'll be true for many fans, except those of the club he signs with (for the most part). Its setting up a nice resentment of the club that may get him ... deliberately or not. For that reason its probably better that it is SFC.
Realfootball
Guest
No offense taken, Jmac. It really is a shame that Mandic hasn't handled this better. Mandic is an agent, not a PR operative. I am sure that it will all be forgotten if K signs for either Sydney or Melbourne.
TomC
Roar Guru
Good points, dasilva.