Battlelines are being drawn as A-League club owners unite in taking up arms against the game’s governing body, Football Federation Australia (FFA).
Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer’s appointment of 17-year-old debutant Mitch Cooper as captain, which led to the departure of coach Miron Bleiberg, has created a snowball effect that’s somehow led to talk of a breakaway league, such is the animosity coming from certain club owners.
Following Palmer’s Monday night tirade, it didn’t take long for Newcastle Jets owner Nathan Tinkler to pick up on Palmer’s suggestion that he paid up to 10 times more than the FFA charged other owners for an A-League licence, with the Jets considering legal action.
Owner angst has now manifested itself in the notion that they could create a breakaway league to divorce themselves from the FFA, or, more likely, in an attempt to wrestle A-League power away from the governing body.
Former A-League boss Archie Fraser discussed the contention on SEN Radio in Melbourne earlier in the week; what he called Palmer’s “campaign to do a breakaway league”.
“Some of his antics of the last few days really suggest he is positioning himself and a group to break away from the FFA, which could be the right outcome because the FFA structure is holding back the league,” he said.
Whether this is Palmer deflecting blame for the failings of Gold Coast United onto the FFA or a genuine attempt to take control of the A-League is debatable. The timing is certainly interesting given the events on the Gold Coast. But nevertheless it’s a threat.
Palmer, Tinkler, Tony Sage at Perth Glory and co are crucial to the survival of the A-League. Without their personal fortunes, clubs wouldn’t exist, plain and simple. If Sage, Tinkler, Palmer and co decide to go spend their money in rugby league or elsewhere, the A-League would be in serious trouble as there are very few millionaires willing to bankroll a football club at a heavy loss, so ignore them at your peril.
“I had recent discussions with Clive and he did suggest the idea of a competition replacing the A-League and being run independently of FFA,” Sage said to The World Game.
“I explained to him how that would put Australia outside the umbrella of FIFA and that you wouldn’t be able to sign FIFA-registered players and play in FIFA-sanctioned competitions and he understood that.
“There’s no way it could happen here, unlike in rugby league where of course it did a number of years back. So the idea got knocked on the head pretty quickly.”
Backing up Sage’s point, Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin told The Advertiser that a complete break from the FFA was not a possibility.
“That process has to involve the FFA. We are not ever going to countenance to be rebels and we have to work with the FFA.
“We have to build a bridge and we want to sit down and do it with all the clubs. We want to see change but in a balanced and orderly way.
“Clive’s comments, while I don’t endorse a range of them, it’s created a reason for them (FFA) to sit down and talk.”
Sage and Griffin’s comments seem to conflict Fraser’s extreme viewpoint: “The prospect of a breakaway A-League competition managed and run by the owners of the existing clubs is not as fanciful as the FFA might think.”
Let’s get one thing straight; the possibility of a rebel league should be taken with a grain of salt. It is merely a bargaining ploy. To setup a rival league to an FFA-sanctioned competition would be tantamount to suicide for the game – and those pedaling those thoughts should realise that.
The A-League is Australian football’s second chance – the clean slate to move on and learn from the failings of the National Soccer League. Any notion that the game can afford a third chance via a breakaway league led by Palmer, of all people, is ridiculous.
And if there is to be a rebel league or even the threat of one, the owners should not unite behind Palmer, who, despite his deflecting, has made a mess of Gold Coast United.
He has well and truly lost a large chunk of what remained of the supporters of his club, as witnessed by the public support he garnered midweek, when, after his insistence that all was well with Gold Coast United, a crowd of just 1141 came out to support the beleaguered club – an all-time club low and the second worst crowd in A-League history.
Working with the FFA is the only tenable solution to issues that can be solved within the current setup of the game, not binning the A-League foundation that, despite the financial and structural model needing reworking, is a relatively strong one.
But club owners, who are collectively losing between $25 and $28 million a year, deserve a say in how the league is governed and which direction it goes in, but not, as Sage said, having “the animals running the zoo”.
He continued: “The guys who have funded the A-League to the tune of $40-50 million since its inception and deserve a say in the running of the game and how their money is spent.
“What Clive is saying is that all they want is somebody on the board promoting their viewpoints. We all support him in that ambition.
“It’s about time all of the owners have a greater say in how the money is spent because, in the end, it’s our money that’s propping up the game.
“If I didn’t do it, there’d be no Perth Glory; if Clive didn’t do it, there’d be no Gold Coast team; and if Nathan didn’t do it, there’d be no Jets team.”
The Crawford Report long ago demanded that the A-League should be run independently of the FFA and, crucially, collaborate to collectively exploit the game’s key commercial assets, backed up by the more recent Smith Report. But this is where direct comparisons with the AFL and NRL’s independent commissions are difficult and the FFA needs to retain an element of control.
The AFL and NRL don’t have multiple national teams playing in major senior, junior competitions across both sexes. The A-League needs to be married to the Socceroos to some extent to feed off their commercial success – to a far greater extent than in England where the English Premier League can stand on its own independently given its financial might relative to the A-League.
Only the FFA can help do that and provide some middle ground between the national team and league, so club owners, who require some representation and meaningful role in A-League governance, are not left totally to their own devices yet can feed off the game’s most valuable asset – its national team.
The FFA has an immense amount on its plate; consumed with all facets of the game from the Socceroos to junior development. So it needs help in addressing issues that club owners and directors deal with on a daily basis in their respective markets, which the FFA could be dismissive of or ignorant to given their total control.
A prime example comes from Sage regarding the league’s archaic sponsorship restrictions that prevent clubs from signing sponsors who conflict with the FFA’s backers.
“The AFL has Toyota as the major sponsor and Ford is allowed to sponsor Geelong,” Sage told The World Game. “In the A-League you have Hyundai as an exclusive backer and no club is currently able to find a car company to support it, or a telco for that matter.
“That needs to change when existing deals come up for renewal.”
Think of the avenues of sponsorship closed to clubs at a time when they are bleeding financially, in a challenging economic climate, when even Sydney FC, one of the biggest clubs in the league, is without a shirt sponsor.
This is one issue where the FFA could be conflicted given its dual role with the A-League and Socceroos. Who benefits most from an exclusive telco deal with Optus, for example? So it’s a clear case where A-League club owners need a say in the decision-making process to wrestle some control away from the FFA.
But these are the types of issues the club owners need to address with the FFA, not separate of the FFA, for the betterment of the game.
With Palmer, Tinkler and co squaring off against the FFA in full public view over the governance of the game, don’t be surprised if there is significant collateral damage in their war for independence. A lot is at stake.
Crowds, memberships and television ratings may be up this season, but the failings of Gold Coast United and Palmer so spectacularly exposing the financial burden on club owners will only perpetuate the notion that the game cannot run itself successfully to wider Australia.
Remember, this is happening at a time when the next television deal, vital to addressing some of the financial concerns of the owners, is being negotiated in a challenging marketplace with the likes of the NRL and V8 Supercars also out there fighting for their own slab of the market share.
“It looks like two sides have gone to their corners and have come out fighting,” Sage said. “It’s not good to see our dirty laundry aired in public. I don’t think it’s the way to do it.”
Australian football’s ability to tear itself to shreds is only matched by the Australian Labor Party at present.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I think many would agree that the FFA is not faultless, that some of their decision making has fallen short, and that the owners need to have a say given that they are the ones putting their hands in their pockets -that's all true enough - but none of that can possibly excuse Palmer's excesses. Barring maybe two of the owners, the rest have completely distanced themselves from Palmer. This interview from today with ARchie Fraser on SEN radio strikes a pretty good balance- Archie is quite critical of the FFA, Lowy and Buckley, without the antics, exaggeration and conspiracy theories of Palmer. (I put up the link on another thread) The most interesting point that Archie makes is that the FFA will probably have to buy out the remaining two years of Palmer's license, and that will probably save everyone a bit of court action. However, while Archie thinks getting into Western Sydney is ultra important, he is critical of the whole tapping people on the shoulder approach, which is sort of what is happening right now.
j binnie
Guest
Axelv- Not wishing to debate the gist of your whole article I would ask you to elaborate on 2 of the statements you made- (1) "Palmer has single handedly destroyed a club". How can you possibly say that when he has invested a reported $15 million into the club? As he said he is probably one of the few clubs that don't owe FFA money. Now I agree with you there is much more he could do to improve things, but "destroy the club". Can't agree. (2) "look at what the FFA has done right this year" - They didn't delay the start of the league this year they simply moved it back to where it was before they moved it !!!!!. "More media coverage?" If you are a watcher of Channel 9 in Brisbane you would find that hard to believe the Roar barely rate a mention night after night while Wally tells us who has twisted an ankle at Broncos training. "Crowds up 30% (35% actually)". How did FFA do that?, I would have thought the clubs would have had input into that increase. "Big Wednesday?" Those 5 games drew around 45,000 fans for an average of 9000/game. Victory drew over 40,000 to their first home game and the FFA didn't supply Kewell for that game." TV ratings at record levels". How does the FFA affect those figures,I would have thought it was the standard of football being played by the teams that was affecting those figures."listening to and engaging the fans" You are not referring to the forums to discuss a national cup competition are you? Still waiting for an outcome. Like you my friend,I too think the HAL has made huge progress, but I also keep my ears and eyes open and I can't help thinking there is much more that could be done in a pro-active manner to make it even better. jb
Griffo
Roar Guru
*Long, loud whistle* Game over! Time to head home Roar members...
asanchez
Roar Guru
Wow! Fantastic post! Exactly what I was thinking. No sporting clubs make money, anywhere in the world. Its the TV money that keeps clubs and leagues going.
Philipcoates
Guest
++++ 1
Pajo
Guest
Actually it's not like that axelv, it's more like working at safeway for free and spemding money there, seeing where they are going wrong and seeing how easy the problems would be to fix but management's main issue is holding onto the status quo
Midfielder
Guest
+++++ 9999999
Axelv
Guest
If The Cattery didn't like the A-League, he would be supporting Palmer... Palmer has single handedly destroyed a club, brought our game down and is now swinging at our football organization, and you see him as a saviour because he has billions? What have I missed here? If you want to question the profitability of A-League clubs, go ahead. But I am almost certain that every A-League license owner has expected immediate losses, but predicting gains for the long term, it is a risk and nothing is guaranteed. This is a new competition, it takes time to find it's feet. Compare it to the MLS and J-League. The similarities are staggering, much of the revenue from all sports comes from Television Rights. The last deal was signed 7 years ago at $17m per year, the A-League has proven itself and much improved since then, and the next deal is set to be significantly more. This means greater distribution of income to all the A-League clubs, at the moment half of the $2.6m salary cap is being provided by the FFA, this is no secret nor scam. The rest is planned to be filled come next TV deal. This will save the clubs $1.3m per year! If you think that all the money at the FFA is going to waste and absolutely nowhere, let's think about it. There is an A-League, W-League, Socceroos, Matilda's, Olyroos, U23, U19, U17 Men's and Women's that have to be funded and run, do you think these teams and competitions they enter are for free? The last TV deal of $17m per year was mainly driven by the up coming popularity of the Socceroos, bundling it with the A-League is what allowed the FFA to get all the money while broadcasting the A-League. The recent Smith report says that while the FFA and A-League should separate in the future, for now the FFA needs to run the A-League until it can stand on it's own two feet, which is not far off. If you don't like the FFA for whatever reason that's fine, but remember that football in this country is far greater than it has ever been when it has been run by the FFA, do you remember Soccer Australia? Backstabbing, infighting, missing money, ethnic clubs, worthless TV deals and no mainstream coverage. I do not yearn for the dark old days nor do I wish it upon anyone. Palmer accuses the FFA of scamming Tinkler, boasting that he paid $500,000 for his license, meanwhile Tinkler paid $5 million for his, what he didn't say is what Tinkler paid an acquisition fee, not an A-League license. Brisbane (with the best coach and team in the A-League paid $10m), Adelaide, Perth, Wellington($6m) have all paid a similar amounts for acquiring their clubs, Palmer's A-League license was for a club that had not yet existed. Let's look at what the FFA has done right this year. Delayed the season to start after the AFL and NRL finishes, more media coverage, Social media advertising campaign, crowds are up 30%, Big Wednesday, Regional rounds, record crowds in a round, TV ratings at record levels, listening and engaging with fans, letting active fans sing without harassment. Let's compare it to last year and we have ++++++++++++++++ If you want to back a slimey hypocritical liar and you trust him just because he is rich then go ahead. But more than 80% of the football community are not falling for it, it's a pity about Craig Foster's stand on this though, real pity. Football needs unity, not more in fighting!
The Cattery
Roar Guru
jonjax Why direct your comments at me? a fair few a riling against Clive's comments (and possible intentions) - I'm not alone, in fact, I'm far from alone. Also, is the mention of Dr Edelsteen meant to add weight to the point you're making, or detract from it?
jonjax
Guest
Cattery, we leaguies had our belicose Kerry Packer and I don't recall the media at the time crying " it's the end of the world ", in fact we weclomed his involvement in league. (You should check in with the "leather patch" brigade and ask them what KP really thought about rugby union.) I seem to recall you "aerial ping pongers'', had Dr Geoffrey Edelsten, he of the pink ferrari and Leanne Edelsten, "Ooh, that's mum's team!" Sport, particularly a global sport like the round ball game is all encompassing , it embraces all sorts, "ecumenical and eclectic", as my wife would say, so why don't you cut the A-League some slack!
Axelv
Guest
These club owners, while they own their club, they don't own the A-League or should say how it's run... It's like shopping at a supermarket, spending $1000 dollar's weekly, boast about how you spend the most money and then claiming that you deserve to say how the supermarket is run or you will sue... When there are thousands of other customers(fans and other owners) that also shop there and spend even more than them. If they don't like the A-League, they should hand back in their license and spend their money elsewhere. This breakaway talk and suing is bad for the game, Clive is acting like a sore loser because he can't handle that he has failed his club (community wise) , and that's the saddest thing of all, it's his club and not Gold Coast's.
Kasey
Guest
But if annually the doom & gloomers repeat their GCU is rooned claims, one year they’ll be right and will magically forget the many years they were wrong to proclaim, "see I told youse!" FWIW, I don’t particularly like GCU, but in reading between the lines of Palmer’s comments post game Wednesday I think there’s a better than even chance they’ll not only be around next season, but the season after that, which is the licence term (if only to continue to be able to stick it to Ben Buckley, who Mr Palmer obviously likes so much) Palmer doesn’t strike me as the type to run away from a fight as his litigation count can attests to. Currently he is engaged in an acrimonious fight with FFA Head Office, why does anyone think the leopard will change its spots, just because this is football not another sphere?
Stevo
Guest
Johnno, One of the better interviews this week was with Miron on Foxsports FC http://www.foxsports.com.au/Football/miron-bleiberg-interview/video-e6frf423-1226278366705?subcat=1225834288523&site=FoxSports He mentions talking to Clive about football and telling him that's it not a simply money making venture because it mixes business with passion. He basically told Clive not to expect to be making money from GCU - not just because it's GCU but because owners around the world also find that they carry losses. Miron told Clive that what he can do for him is to make sure that his money was spent wisely.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Clive is such a wonderful role model for all soccer fans.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Dillan The internet is a wonderful resource for doing your own research. Here's a starter for you - I can't recall a more positive & ebullient post-match interview with any HAL owner after his team has drawn at home. Clive's closing comment: "we may be bottom this year but next year we're going to give it a big shake". Watch the interview and tell me if it sounds like a man, who has no interest in success of his football team. http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/039a-great-game039/video-e6frf423-1226278978104?sectionvertical=football
Titus
Guest
I think Halloran is signed for next season. Brown has gone to Newcastle, Traore is reportedly being chased by Sydney, Thwaite, Reese and Moss are all likely to leave as well. Clive has some ideas that could work--smaller stadium, younger team etc 1 year contracts and crowd caps are not amongst his good ideas.
Midfielder
Guest
So very true what you say...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
SFN I heard the same thing 24 months ago; and the same thing 12 months ago. I presume the people, who write about the impending demise of GCU and the impending demise of the HAL save their posts and they can simply "cut & paste" the same doom & gloom every 12 months. The more I engage on internet blogs, I've come to realise "common knowledge" is about as oxymoronic as "tabloid knowledge".
Dillan
Guest
Fuss, How about you give me the details of all players signed for next season..?
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Fuss - there will not be any on-field GCU to cheer on if the off-field drama does not get sorted. Is it not common knowledge that almost the entire squad is on one year contracts? No owner who cares about the team and its future runs a club like that, you would have to agree? IF CP continues his one man hissy fit you can guarantee that the FFA wont renew his license in two years time - and for the best I say. The kids playing for GCU will be absorbed by the other clubs in any case.