The A-League has come along way, that’s been said many times. Following a gradual build-up in the past 10 years, I believe it can really take off on a global scale.
You often hear people talking about promotion and relegation, or mass expansion, as part of the not too distant future of the A-League. These people, who’s enthusiasm I wish I could share, are all having a pipe dream.
Australia could never, not in a million years, be able to have the same football triangle which we see in Europe or South America. Australia is too barren and the support of football will never match other countries.
So what does the future hold for the A-League? I don’t want to start looking 10-20 years into the future, that’s too far for my liking. Instead I’ll discuss the future of the A-League in 2017/18 season, when the current broadcast deal ends.
I am a realist, I like to image the real possibilities. So here I go.
Firstly, what I would like to see is moderate expansion, to increase the league teams to 12, making the season 33 games long. The most logical places I see expansion is southern Sydney and Canberra, but that’s a debate for another time.
Secondly, I would like to see a third marquee spot opened up. I know about the junior marquee but that never gets used. The marquee system would work as one domestic, one international and one for whatever the club sees fit. This system would allow clubs to have a ‘peoples’ marquee’ such as Alessandro Del Piero and one who is there just for their skill, such as Thomas Broich.
People may argue that this would affect the lower clubs, but in reality one player can’t change everything. They will make a difference, of course, but I can’t see one extra marquee making a team like Sydney a dominating power over the Central Coast Mariners.
These are only two of the many possible and realistic advancements for the A-League. Who knows, the A-League could average 18,000 people and have a couple of ACL titles under their belt by the time 2016-17 comes around. The net few years could be the biggest ones A-League fans have ever witnessed.
Socrates
Guest
Agree, the cost to register a junior is unbelievable, $1500. Most parents don't spend that much on their child;s education.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
One driver for expansion is coming from below. The national youth development policy is starting to produce a deeper talent pool which means that the risk of a decline in standards due to expansion is being steadily eroded.
Socrates
Guest
The A league will expand to 12 , 14 and maybe even 16 teams, base on the TV deal cycles. The FFA will "control" this process by carefully selecting franchises that have meet the criteria set by them. The current NPL structure is not what the FFA wanted, they failed to get their model through. Promotion/ relegation wont happen until the FFA model is adopted by each state and territory. Until this happens, their is no way that FFA would risk the business base on a dream...
Matthew Skellett
Guest
I think that we can afford to be kind and generous to our neighbour , to identify with them for who knows we may need their help one of these days
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
People in other sports said the A-League wouldn't work because we thrive off the suburban rivalries and that the one team per city rule wouldn't work for us. This is just wishful thinking on the part of people that want to see us fall face flat.
sassy
Guest
the A in FFA means Australia, we have no responsibility for new zealand football
Cameron
Roar Guru
Cheers Fuss, I like the way you think.
Qlder
Guest
Other codes don't operate a promotion/relegation structure because it is hard enough just having viable clubs, without the threat of relegation. Apart from local derbies there is no such thing as just jumping on the bus, because you generally have to travel half a day between airports, before you even get to a game. As much as some supporters of Soccer/Football like to compare with English Football, much of the current appeal of Soccer/Football for the everyday punter in Australia is that the code is operating similar to the NRL / AFL /Super Rugby with a regular season and finals series, and local franchises that you can support from year to year. The English Football has two things going for it in terms of promotion and relegation which we do not, being small distances and a larger population. The lack of success of the English team is that their countries football leagues supports the development of other countries players to the detriment of their own.
Bondy
Guest
Griffo If the Nix's license wasn't renewed would that kill New Zealand Football ...
matt on football
Guest
its way less than that, that more than they put in
matt on football
Guest
its way less than that, that more than they put in
Griffo
Roar Guru
Yes expansion to 12 teams is a logical next step but I think it's a wait and see on Wellington's licence renewal next year. The AFC may have taken the pressure of the FFA on P/R but remains to be seen what leanings the AFC has with the FFA over the Phoenix. If the worse case is that Wellington is not renewed, then 3 new teams will be needed; one fairly quickly the other two as mentioned. With that extra revenue in the next deal I would like some of that invested into youth development. How much can the FFA kickstart some youth academies for the A-Leagues clubs, or even subsidise coaching education so it is dirt cheap and more educated coaches enter the youth and semi-pro ranks.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
12 team comp for next media deal would be welcome and a sensible next step. Extra revenue from the media deal needs to be fed back to the clubs and their owners who have basically put up the money to allow Lowy et al to actually have a working HAL. Also money should go into making the game accessible and less costly at the grass roots levels. This to be done before any bizarre and fanciful thoughts about pro/rel.
premy
Guest
$100mil per year TV deal -Salary Cap of $3mil -A-League Clubs given $4mil per year($48mil) -A2-League Salary cap of $1.25mil -A2-League Clubs given $1.5mil($24mil) -48+24=$72mil leaving FFA with $28mil 12 team expansion -South Coast Wolves -Auckland City A2-Northern League -Northern Fury -Brisbane Strikers -Western Pride -Palm Beach Sharks -Manly United -Sydney 3rd/CBD -Sydney 4th/South West -Canberra United A2-Southern League -Gippsland Falcons -Ballarat Red Devils -North Melbourne/Epping -South Melbourne/Dandenong -Geelong Galaxy -Tasmania United -Adelaide 2nd -Perth 2nd
premy
Guest
I believe it was Charlesworth that said collectively $100mil had been lost across the whole A-League. Not just Sydney, I had to read that same part twice to make sense of it as it was confusing because Charlesworth was talking about his time on the board at Sydney then the Author mentioned the $100mil quote from Charlesworth.
c
Guest
ok so they have lost a hundred million dollars is that correct?
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
Actually I'm with Fuss, the actions of the FFA (Promotion/relegation, de-ethnicising clubs) Seem to indicate that they're shaping up to implement promotion and relegation.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
No I don't have a definitive answer to your 1st question. In business, when I'm asked to make forecasts for the future I build models that rely on case studies featuring similar situations. Based on overseas case studies, promotion & relegation works. In business & in life, I've found there are broadly 2 types of people: a) those who look at a problem & find reasons to explain why change won't work; and b) those who look at a problem & find solutions to make changes work. I'd like to think I'm in category (b).
Cameron
Roar Guru
Is that 1 billion?
Cameron
Roar Guru
I was waiting for the comparison to English football let alone any other country who follow football as their number one. You don't have an answer for my first question?