The A-League is enduring its most difficult period since its establishment seven seasons ago. While many issues indeed require attention, the success the competition has had in building and cultivating a loyal fan-base is a huge positive.
However, these fans must now be harnessed to take on a more active role in governing the game. The formation of a body such as Supporters Direct, which exists in Europe, provides a means of doing so.
Since the A-League’s inception, the survival of clubs has, in most cases, been determined by wealthy owners. The reasons for this were obvious: the game needed capital and wealthy owners were seen to be the best way of ensuring both the establishment and financial stability of clubs.
Fast forward seven years and it has not always proved to be the case. The problem of placing clubs into the hands of a single owner has unfortunately been shown on more than one occasion. While this no doubt is a huge issue facing the sport, there is something that can come out this mess to ensure a bright, stable and fan-engaged future – community ownership.
This idea is far from new, and is the goal for the future of the expansion club Western Sydney. But there is more that must be done to encourage this in all of the competition’s clubs.
The creation of a member-owned organisation such as Supporters Direct provides a means of doing so. Having been established in 1999, Supporters Direct’s goal is to “promote sustainable spectator sports clubs based on supporters’ involvement & community ownership.”
The key element of its operation is helping supporters groups secure influence and ownership of clubs, something it has been very successful in doing.
The body has helped supporters’ groups across Europe to bring in more than $45 million in new finance into football and rugby league. This money has been used to buy a stake or in some cases to purchase clubs.
Among the high-profile cases of supporter ownership is Swansea City, where fans own a 20 percent stake in the Premier League Club.
Financial mismanagement had seen the club bordering on relegation from League Two just 10 years ago, before fan investment played a major role in stabilising it and creating an environment which has seen it rise to the Premier League.
Could this happen in Australia? The answer is a resounding yes, if the conditions are right. This is where the formation of a body such as Supporters Direct is essential to doing so.
Football fans in Australia indeed have the knowledge and passion to be vital parts of A-League clubs, but the ownership conditions do not allow for this to happen, nor does the conduct of the FFA encourage it.
This is where an organised body can play a role in creating an environment where fan ownership is sought after by clubs.
Uniting fans would greatly increase their power to lobby the FFA and club owners, and make it more difficult for their wishes to be ignored. There is also the key element of getting more money into the sport without leaving the club’s fate in the hands of one person. It would come instead from many sources, reducing the financial burden and helping to create a more sustainable business.
The A-League is far from finished and still has huge potential. For this potential to be realised, the sport must unleash its biggest asset – its fans. They hold the key to the future of the A-League and they must be welcomed into playing an even bigger role in its welfare.
If you are keen to find out more about Supporters Direct, head to their website here.
Follow Beau on Twitter: @beaubusch
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