FFA secure David Gallop as CEO through 2018

@ac Attack the other codes? U mean like Shelias, w#gs and p##fters? As long as our heads swell to a round shape we're happy. BTW what's footy? I can't see the connection with that sport and the beautiful game. Id hardly call football a brand of footy infact id call footy a brand of rugby. Confused yet? That's right. This is a football tab.

Hey Socrates, Ange postecoglou coached the team that won the Asian Cup. He played for AND coached SMFC to trophies. Popovic coached the team that won the ACL. They came from the NSL. Your beloved Timmy Cahill did aswell. He played for the former Greek AND Croatian teams haha! He never played in the Aleague. Are you aware that basically the entire 2006 & 2010 WC squads were products of the NSL? Do you even know anything about football? It's better to remain quiet and be assumed ignorant rather than reply and remove all doubt.

Holding the game back During the NSL, 1977 to 2004, Australia qualified for zero world cups. During the A league period, the Socceroos have qualified for three world cups and won the an Asia Cup. The faceless men who ran football during the NSL have had their day, they produce headlines for all the wrong seasons.

offsider It could also be suggested do other sports and sports administrations make Gallop look good ..

I think Football fans are a bit unfair how they attack other codes. It's best nit to get too swelled head just because you like a particular Brand of footy.

Let's see how he handles the Newcastle jets and tinkler, the Mariners relocation talk or the Perth glory salary cap inquest It's easy being in charge when things are going along fine.

Uruguay too have a play off between apetura and clausura winners. Bolivia have playoffs too in a weird regional thing in their clausura.

The "minor premier" thing is what I was mainly thinking of - it appeared it might be going away, but Gallop seems to have pushed it back towards that. Premiership and Championship - 2 different comps. Paul - if the GF winner is not the premier, you are saying they should be only granted a playoff spot - surely that means you can see it's of less value?

Mexico (not South America I know) have two half seasons (apetura and clausura), with playoffs between the top teams in each half season. Chile used to have this but I think they have changed. I think Ecuador still do it though, and Venezuela, Colombia have playoffs of some description too.

@ cuidad Agree 100%. Believe it or not I actually like the finals too... when MV are winning them haha. It can get half an ACL spot. And let the public relish the bright lights. And it *is* all about the importance that FFA has placed on them thus far. Anyway it's good to know that things are changing and FFA board members are behind the idea of awarding the direct spot to FFA cup winner. And soon! Interesting that South Americans have finals.. I wonder which countries and their actual conpetion formats.. I dare say theyd have their proper respective domestic cups also..

@Rbb You and (Paul) are right about it being purely about the $$. And I like your finals idea a lot. It's gotta be 4/10 at best.. Even when we expand to 12 teams. And re Europe even if they do have a final series in certain leagues it's a case of the more the merrier for them.. In that, they won't abandon their domestic cups (Id hope) and in turn there'll be more football to watch! Win win!

@Paul "The media should also be instructed to stop using the term “minor premier” – nothing minor about topping the table in our game." Exactly. Well said!

I don't mind if we have a final series but lets be clear, the Champions of the A-league should be the team who finishes first past the post. Unfortunately that recognition just wont happen in Australia. To at least make the finals meaningful you have to reduce the participants or make it as difficult as possible for those who sit lower in the ladder who make the finals. Being made champion should be regarded over the full 27 round competition and not a few short weeks. The finals are plain and simple a money spinner for the FFA, but the FFA is not going to say that. I would have only four participants in a 10 team comp. The two top teams would play off and determine who is in the final. Then teams 3 and 4 would play to determine who plays the loser of the first match. Then the winner of that match is in the final. It would be extremely difficult for team 3 and 4 to win the comp and you already have at least one of the top 2 teams in the final for rewarding a good season. If team 3 and 4 wins after that good luck to them. As for final series there is still rumours that some European leagues would revert to a finals system. My advice to them is, if ain't broke, don't fix it.

Sorry HM. I didn't take into account the 6/10 finals system we have now - hopefully this is rectified when the comp increases to 12 teams. But that's the only argument against the finals. A team can drop a game and still win the premiership, hence the pressure ain't always there. I do agree though that there should be review into giving the GF winner an ACL spot - if the GF winner is a team other than the Premier, perhaps only a playoff spot should beckon. The media should also be instructed to stop using the term "minor premier" - nothing minor about topping the table in our game. Nevertheless, this is Australia and GFs are just a part of the sporting culture. People get used to it from junior sport all the way to our professional leagues. Also consider the revenue, TV ratings and that they provide a big finish for the season, GFs are not going away anytime soon.

I don't mind having a final series. They do have them in other parts of the world (south america even). But I do mind that it is given higher importance from the governing body. I don't see why it can't be treated as a separate cup comp, entry into which is decided by league position. If Joe public decides it's more inportant, ok. But I don't want the ffa saying it is. It's a two game cup. As for the chairs, from a wanderers perspective, I can do without them, they shut out the views of some members at Parra and can stay away as far as I'm concerned. I get that they look tin pot though.

"Only consistent teams get to play" Ok so as it stands city would be in the finals. Yes very consistent team. City could win the finals without scoring a goal in regular or extra time and then represent us in Asia? No thanks. Anyway, you're missing the point here. It's about ACL spots. And a meaningful competition. Let's be real. The only reason the finals exist is because we haven't had a meaningful cup comp thus far. You need to understand why the FFA Cup comp is so much more meaningful in order to understand why there are people like me who don't see any validity in a daft 3 game tourney that somehow magically makes you champion of Australia. It makes sense doesn't it? ALL of the clubs in Australia (not just six) fight it out to see who comes out on top and who will carry our torch into Asia. I'm not trying to take something from you I'm trying to give you something that's real and nutritious that isn't fairy floss. Imagine how the development of grassroots football will fast track when a small NPL club takes the Asian stage. The current finals are actually doing the taking here, by hogging the limelight and ACL spot. You may enjoy the grand final and goodluck to you but please don't be so ill informed and out of line as to compare the dizzying magnitude and feat of performing over a whole season to a 3 day mardi gras procession. Maintaining week in week out over an entire season is when the "ultimate pressure is applied."

Socrates if we did not have these so called clubs we would have nothing now

Oh yeah I forgot. There's a guy called popovic who was a player for Sydney Croatia.. And that devil Hellas team has a bit of a connection to this guy you mayve heard of called ange postecoglou. What a way to hold back football in this country!

The finals aren't quite a knockout comp which could involve teams regardless of how they fare in the league. Only consistent teams get to play in it and those showing consistency are rewarded with a home semi and a home GF. The A-League does get a good balance, it does reward consistency but also tests whether a team can still perform when the ultimate pressure is applied. Furthermore, consider all the seasons where a club has the premiership wrapped up with a few rounds to go. Would it even be meaningful given the lack of promotion and relegation as well as no prizemoney for finishing higher up in the ladder to continue the season? I've attended three Grand Finals and enjoyed them all. If you don't like Grand Finals then don't watch them, but don't take the spectacle away from those who relish them.

Might I add I'm a victory member since day dot and love ammi park. Best ground in the county. Doesn't mean I have to be a bigot about everything non HAL. And PS your name is Greek. Disgruntled Hellas wannabe?