On the same day that Football Federation Australia announced that Nathan Tinkler’s Hunter Sports Group (HSG) would honour its contract to run the Newcastle Jets, saving the former champions, the governing body heralded a new dawn of collaboration with A-League clubs.
Finally, some good news from the previously beleaguered league.
With a collective sigh of relief, the football community is claiming that the A-League is back on course after rolling on from one catastrophe to another ever since Clive Palmer, Gold Coast United owner, spectacularly set of a cosmic chain of events that threatened the league’s very existence.
It’s a remarkable turn of events considering just three weeks ago Tinkler and the FFA seemed destined for the courts, with the former’s HSG citing a fundamental breakdown in their relationship with the FFA as the reason why it handed back the Jets’ licence, following Palmer’s path on the outer of the game.
So why the backflip?
The official line is that FFA chief Frank Lowy and Tinkler met over the weekend and sorted out their differences; the billionaires moving on and agreeing to work together despite the animosity of the last month. But was it really that simple?
Did Tinkler, realising he didn’t have a leg to stand on in the courts considering he had signed a 10-year deal to run the Jets, bite the bullet and accept the FFA’s invitation to come back into the fold?
Was this whole dummy spit merely a negotiating ploy for Tinkler to get some concessions or a waiving of the contentious extra fee he paid for the Jets’ licence relative to other owners?
Perhaps the backlash in Newcastle hit Tinkler hard; the community whom he sought to provide a strong, united, cross-sport brand rallying against him rather than the FFA, prompting the residents of Newcastle to question whether he could be trusted with their other sporting treasure, the Newcastle Knights rugby league club.
“When I first made this commitment I did it on behalf of the community and I am committed to further developing football and sport in a community I grew up in and am proud of,” said Tinkler.
Whether that community can trust him after he toyed with them and threatened the existence of their beloved club remains to be seen. He must earn their trust back, which won’t be any easy task given his drastic actions of the last month.
So all is right with the A-League, they say.
Newcastle is back in the fold, guaranteeing the required 10-team competition next season; advertising entrepreneur John Singleton shapes as the Central Coast Mariners’ saviour if the mysterious Russian investors never surface; Perth Glory and Adelaide United owners have come out guaranteeing their commitment amidst speculation over their futures; the Western Sydney heartland will have a community-driven club up and running; and league problem child, Gold Coast United, and its troublesome owner have been banished.
Even if Palmer maintain his war against the FFA via his Football Australia rebel body, he’s crucially without what appeared to be his key ally in Tinkler, who has sided back with the FFA. And with his campaign to take on the federal government and his brazen plan to build a Titanic Mark II (of all things), one wonders if Palmer will still have the time (motivation) to persist with his campaign against the FFA.
With the new Joint A-League Strategic Committee (JALSC) up and running, having met for the first time in Sydney yesterday, clubs are getting a taste of the transparency and say they have demanded.
According to the FFA, the committee meeting marked “a new era of collaboration between clubs and the governing body”.
In owners Tony Sage (Perth Glory), Peter Sidwell (Melbourne Heart) and Greg Griffin (Adelaide United), who will represent the clubs on the JALSC, there is a good cross-section of representation for the rest of the owners.
But the key test of the JALSC will be whether it becomes merely a forum for the club owners to air their grievances, or if it can be a committee where decisions and reforms are formulated for the FFA to then push through.
Having had multiple cases of rogue owners rebelling against their authority and, somehow, coming out the other end with a league still intact, the biggest mistake the FFA can make is to pat itself on the back for winning back Tinkler and saving the Jets and simply move on. Genuine reform is still needed, and the league remains at the mercy of other disenfranchised rogue owners.
With the cash-strapped governing body rushing in and bankrolling a new Western Sydney for next season, it could not afford to run a Newcastle, Central Coast or other owner-less club.
Yet as Adelaide United proved a fortnight ago when, in a desperate bid to help fund their Asian Champions League campaign, they negotiated with “the enemy” in Palmer’s Football Australia for sponsorship, clubs are bleeding financially; even those with committed owners, on- and off-field success and a strong community presence.
The FFA dodged a pretty massive bullet over the Jets. But it remains in bed with an owner that has once before walked away from his club and others who could yet do so. And unless there is genuine reform as a result of open discourse with the club owners, there will be more Tinkler-style behaviour with owners threatening to walk away if they don’t get their way.
That’s no way from a league to exist and hope to engage with fans that become the innocent victims in the power struggle.
The FFA has by fluke or design crafted a 10-team competition that finally has its much sought after two teams in Melbourne and Sydney respectively and has rid itself of the flawed Queensland expansion franchises.
Now is the time to build on that foundation in a new era of transparency with the club owners. The FFA flirted with disaster with the Palmer saga. Fail to learn the lessons from the rogue owner revolt and it might not be so lucky next time.
Portrait of Nathan Tinkler by sports caricaturist David Green
Roger
Guest
I'll watch that video when I get home. But Qantas, honestly, I think you need to have a bit of a rethink regarding who is to blame for the demise of GCU, including who imposed the crowd caps, and who decided to limit contracts.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
I'm all for Australian football, but I don't like to see it run with deception and con-men. Or with people who have no understanding of what loyalty is all about, which I know you are well acquainted with..
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Roger---no one is suggesting that Clive Palmer made good football decisions on how he should have run our club, but I am convinced that he was determined to see out his last 2 years of the franchise and finish with the youth team playing out the last two seasons in our senior team. Contrary to belief the youth team had two year contracts, 5-7 of them I believe. Yes the senior players were on one year contracts. Now I know that is no way to run a professional football team, but that doesn't mean he did not want to do the right thing for the club and the kids in the squad whom he was very proud of for the remainder of the term. Then to see if it was worth pursuing. This interview with Mike Mulvey in part tells you what happen in the final year of our franchise. I hope you stay with it to the end to hear what Mike Mulvey says about United---the good, bad and the ugly. It is what I feel as well.. For me It's the FFA's loss as this would have been a great region for football, if given more time to succeed.. Now that the FFA's purse strings have been opened (in part thanks to Clive) who knows how we would have progressed with more money---it could have meant that the 5k cap on the stadium would've been done away with, a long with a new stadium deal to help, then the disgruntled supporters who left us because of the cap would have returned. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/video/2225279396/EXCLUSIVE:-Mike-Mulvey
Roger
Guest
If Palmer had any intention whatsoever of continuing with the club, why did he have all the players on 12 month contracts? Why was the team filled with youth players? FFA just did what needed to be done to prevent a long drawn out Palmer tantrum style demise of GCU. Sorry, but blaming FFA and Lowy on what Palmer did isn't right. But I'm glad to hear that you have Sydney to fall back on.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
No Roger you would crucify the person who pulled the pin on the Melb Vic with two more years to run on your franchise. The punishment didn't fit the crime.. It's not as if we (GCU) were involved in a match fixing scam, or bribing referees---we were building a club in a region that the FFA themselves identified as a future market to be in. Two more years could have made all the difference, we may have advanced the club further with all locally produced players making up our side, which we almost had done. The Roar turned their fortunes around in two years from poor results and flagging attendances there are enough potential supporters in Queensland. Why couldn't the FFA go to FOX asking to support a 12 team comp---why does it have to be a 10 team comp? And why should I stop supporting Australian Football when its been the sport I've enjoyed all my life..? I want a new administration to take Australian Football to a new level.. btw as an old Sydney boy my spiritual team has always been SFC and GCU because that's where I live. Thankfully I still have SFC to follow in the HAL---my only regret there is Lowy has a stake in it..
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
philipcoates-----Don't make me laugh Phil that only endorses what I have written and also endorses what Smithies has stated in his last piece.. Lowy caught with his pants down... Very much a back flip by Lowy chasing Tinkler all over the country to say I'm sorry for trying to rip you off... I mean did you read the whole article or just the head line..?
Philip Coates
Roar Guru
QSAF, so now we have to believe what Smithies says do we? OK. The day before he wrote "... Nathan Tinkler has performed a U-turn ..." http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/tinkler-back-as-jets-owner/story-e6frexni-1226343857839 Surely you must now believe it is true because Smithies said so.
Bondy
Guest
Midfielder. If Arnie goes he's not taking Phil is he, I wouldnt like that .
Bondy
Guest
I'd be very interested in this new committee,we cant have owners just simply being left in the dark by management with the owners feeling their just paying bills to accumulate more debt all for the governing body . Slashing win by the lads yesterday night .
Roger
Guest
Qantas, I'm sorry about GCU. If it were my club that folded, I don't know what I'd do. Actually, I know what I'd do. I'd probably stop following the A-League. If I may, can I suggest that you consider whether or not you are blaming the right person for their demise. Someone is to blame,100% agree. But I'm not sure that your sights should be set on Lowy and FFA.
Midfielder
Guest
And in all this turmoil ... The Mariners may still be looking for the vodka and maybe Singo and others are on their way with a boot full of cash... on other news the 5-1 gives us a small chance of making the next leg of the ACL ... BUT we continue to develop our academy despite all the fire-storms ... posted with some pride ... http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/centralcoastmariners/news-display/Academy-Boys-Enjoy-Stellar-Saturday/47138 Academy Boys Enjoy Stellar Saturday A convincing 3-0 win by the Grade 13 Boys – with goals scored by Jesse Piriz, Jed Hornery and Kevin Roberston – was a great start to the weekend. The Grade 14 and 15 Boys both scored two goals apiece with strikes by Trent Buhagiar, Adam Blunden (14 Boys), and Lachlan Wilkinson and Matt Bennett (15 Boys). Both teams won their matches 2-1. The Grade 16 and Grade 18 Boys were able to keep Fraser Park scoreless in their games with the Coast’s keepers Jacob Wesson (16s) and Beyhan Irmako (18s) maintaining clean sheets. Both teams won their games 1-0 with goals to Steve Whyte (16 Boys) and Zac Anastas (18 Boys). Saturday’s winning streak sees the Central Coast Mariners Academy Boys teams move further ahead in the 2012 Boys Super Youth League Club Championship with a total of 24 wins and 4 draws out of 30 games. Sunday saw the Central Coast Mariners Academy Girls teams play their Round 6 matches of the Womens Premier League at Pluim Park against Sydney based team the Gladesville Ravens. The Grade 12 girls followed their win last week against Macarthur Rams with a strong performance against the Ravens securing a 1-1 draw. Although the Academy girls were in front following a goal by Jessica Grassi, Gladesville were able to even the score in the final minute of the game. The Grade 14 Coach, Bret Smith, was thrilled with his teams performance with lots of improvement shown from all the team to earn them a 2-0 win. Keeper Lillian Knight maintained an impressive clean sheet whilst goals were scored in the first half by Jordyn Paull, with a second half goal scored by Freyja Murray. Smith said that “the girls showed a massive improvement in on-field structure with lots of talk and communication between the players throughout the game”. Special mention was made of the defensive players Sabrina Zappavigna, Beth Le Gay Brereton, Emma Hurley, Emma Smith and Freyja Murray who worked well together at the back. The Grade 16 Girls and Reserve Grade teams also went on to win their games – 1-0 for the Grade 16s and 4-0 for Reserve Grade. The day concluded with a 1-1 draw in First Grade with the Coast’s last goal of the weekend scored by Oriana Keane. Earlier in the day, the Boys Grade 11 and 12 teams travelled to ES Marks field in the Eastern Suburbs to play Easts. Both Coast teams came away with convincing wins in the Football NSW development league
JamesP
Guest
"Also, buried in the bigger national football stories was a story about the Victorian State Government increasing its financial commitment to Victorian Football by $1.45m next year .. at the same time, the same Government has reversed a decision to provide a financial contribution to AFL club, Essendon to build new facilities!" Fuss, don't be so smug as to think the Victorian state government, and Sports Minister Delahunty - who is a former Essendon player, will not give them any money. The AFL has made an art form of extracting money from interstate and federal governments (let alone Victoria) for strategic projects (unlike to $45m waste for the World Cup bid). Essendon will get their money. It wont be in this state budget, but they'll get it before the project is finished. http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/134683/default.aspx
whiskeymac
Guest
game of thrones has nothing on these machinations. can be exhausting supporting the game but with matches like the CCM one its all worth it. Secure the TV deal, consolidate and make Western Sydney work... there's plenty of positives for us still.
Kasey
Guest
I quote Song from 442 forums her because he/she has said it better than I could and this is directed at the OP and QSaF "Surely the point is more that no one has an issue with a complainer, as long as they have a viable, thought out and reasonable alternative. To simply swipe without considering alternative options in a realistic commercial world is the problem I have (particularly with people like Fozz/Fink)." If you're bitching and whining just for the sake of it then you are not helping. FFA have simply undone some of the damage they caused by their own actions; but its better that they did this positive action than doing nothing and hoping the problem would go away. Somebody (either at FFAHQ or from outside the box - CP?) deserves credit for getting through to FL/BB that a change in method was required. I hope this heralds a new era of a more consultative approach to running the game.
ItsCalled AussieRules
Roar Rookie
That's a pretty big assumption that the A-League would have folded if Tinkler didn't come back to the Jets. Do you have any evidence of that Adrian? FFA are well into preparations for West Sydney and they set up a Football Newcastle team headed by Ray Baartz as chairman, to bring the Jets back into the A-League without Tinkler. Are you one of thse journalists with a death wish for the A-League, no matter what. Maybe apply for a job at SBS - you would be most welcome there. The FFA have proven themselves to be very resilient and resourceful, wouldn't you think, and shown a true unity and loyalty that was never present in Soccer Australia. Give them some credit where its due.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
C'mon Fuss, Smithies is a well known Sydney Football journo who has all the right contacts to get the up-to-date news items from the insiders from the Jets and even at head office of the FFA. OK, no one was talking about the secret meetings in Brisbane. Although it was pretty obvious that Mr. Poole told Frank Lowy to stick his attempt to woe him over to take on the Jets were bound to fail, so off to see Nathan in Brissie to rescue his credibility... What is disappointing is you start off with the line "Terrific news for the HAL yesterday – not just the HSG back-flip" ...Nothing of the sort. Nathan was trying to do the right thing for his community but never expected that Frank Lowy was trying to rip him off with a bankrupt Jets franchise.. Personally I'm delighted that Nathan found out when he did, so he now can continue his obligations for the people he cares about most of all; Novocastrians, where Frank couldn't really give two hoots only the money he was trying to rip off them.. Retire Frank, let Tony Sage and the JALSC do it with honesty.. Let's have a Football Commission to run the HAL and the FFA with full transparency...
Kasey
Guest
It might sound negative, but I think we are all at the point where we realize that whatever the FFA was or wasn't doing to engage with the owners in the first 6 years wasn't 100% successful and needed to be modified. I hope the FFA has had its eyes opened in recent weeks and the stakeholders can start working together for a long and productive future for the HAL from here on in.
Kasey
Guest
but its rules like that that recently saw the A-League recognized as a very even league and much more competitive than say La Liga or EPL. If Sydney or Melbourne could use the size of their market place to 'blast other teams out of the water, we'd end up in a moneyball situation just to stay competitive. Why would a Perth fan buy a season ticket knowing at the start of the season the team has no real chance of silverware. We don't have a culture here of "surviving the drop is as good as winning a trophy" like in say Wigan or Wolverhampton. There is no one way to run a football league, like us, the yanks have taken the basics and altered it to suit the local market. This means a salary cap and roster constraints. As the HAL develops and matures I expect in both countries that the constraints will be reduced, we already see a marquee/Beckham rule in both leagues, I see no reason why we cant get rid of the squad limit in the future. If the PFA is prepared to negotiate on the minimum payment floor. Once the dividend from the FFA covers the salary cap, the better run clubs will be in more of a position to buy marquee players and perhaps splurge on the nice to haves. running your club better/smarter should have tangible benefits to the owners.
totti
Guest
qsaf, this is embarrassing. its plain for everyone to see that fuss has torn you a brand new a---hole...
JimmyMac
Guest
I think I'm with you PeterK. It certainly is a great day, and the apocalyptic feeling of the past few weeks has been supplanted by a massively positive vibe all of a sudden. But, it took a dramatic unravelling of the FFA's tight control of things, in order for them to take notice of owners' frustrations - many of which had been, it appears, expressed for some time. As such, I think Sage is right to thank Tinkler and Palmer, for without such grand posturing it appears the FFA would never have listened. What is needed is for this new way forward to continue, and not for the FFA to slip back into old ways.