Football Federation Australia (FFA) have announced a string of changes to the A-League salary cap, designed to give clubs more flexibility to both assemble and retain their playing rosters.
The key changes include the introduction of a loyalty player allowance (for those that have been with the club for between five and ten years), a home grown player allowance, loosening of the marquee player and guest player restrictions, increases to the salary cap floor, and the addition of salary cap banking.
“The Player Contract Regulations changes offer significantly increased salary opportunities for players as well as providing flexibility and rewards for clubs who plan their roster around marquee players, youth development and long term loyalty to its players,” said A-League Head, Damien de Bohun.
“These changes will allow clubs to bring talented players through their expanding youth systems, retain cult heroes like Melbourne Victory’s Archie Thompson and continue to search for marquee and guest players that can add impact to the continued growth of the A-League.
“We believe these changes allow flexibility for the A-League clubs with different objectives and structure the opportunity to build their rosters to suit their individual needs, while adding benefits at both ends of a player’s career.
“On top of these changes, FFA continues to work with the PFA to finalise a Collective Bargaining Agreement that will ensure player salary growth increases in line with the growth of the sport.”
The complete details of the implemented changes:
– A loyalty player allowance has been included to give clubs a sliding scale of salary cap relief for players who have played between 5-10 years at the club. The total amount that can be spent on loyalty players is $200,000 outside the salary cap.– Clubs can pay a mature age rookie outside the salary cap to encourage talented players in the National Premier Leagues. This player must be over the age of 21, not played in a fully professional competition for the last 18 months and last played football in Australia. This player must be paid at least the minimum salary.
– The existing home grown player allowance outside the salary cap has lifted from $150,000 to $200,000. Each club can include three players who started their careers with the club, either through the youth system of the A-League squad.
– The two marquee players (which sit outside the salary cap) can now be two foreigners, two Australians or one Australian and one foreigner. This has changed from two marquee players whereby at least one must be Australian.
– Salary cap banking will allow clubs to carry over money not spent inside the salary cap in the previous two seasons to the following season, up to 105 per cent of the salary cap in the relevant contract year.
– The salary cap floor (minimum amount that needs to be spent) lifts from 85 per cent to 90 per cent.
– The length of the maximum stint for a guest player has increased from 10 to 14 weeks.
– The minimum annual salary for players aged over 21 years has risen from $51,000 to $55,000.
Breakdown of the 2015-16 A-League salary cap:
| Salary category | Cost | Increase |
| Salary Cap | $2.55 million | – |
| Salary Cap floor (85% to 90%) | $2.29 million | $127,500 |
| Salary Cap Banking | $127,500 maximum | Up to $127,500 |
| Home Grown Players (3 players) | $200,000 | $50,000 |
| Loyalty Players (unlimited players) | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Mature Age Rookie | $55,000 minimum | $55,000 minimum |
| Two Marquee Players | Unlimited | – |
| One Guest Player (Up to 14 weeks) | Unlimited | – |
TheVolley
Guest
Where was this rule when Roar had Berisha and struggling to keep him?
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
I would like to hear a detailed comment from the PFA. The changes introduced by the FFA seem positive. I am wondering what they are disagreeing on.
Batou
Guest
The increase in $ for the clubs meant that some of them went from losing money to breaking even (although still very much in the red over the life of the a league). The players on the other hand get paid very nicely. Some clubs if course are still in the red now. I don't get why we should be paying more for the same pool of players. It's not going to increase the quality of the league and will just put more clubs under financial pressure. I think that some of the concessions that have been announced make far more sense
Batou
Guest
Why would you ban foreign goal keepers? Why not ban foreign right fullbacks or number 6s while you are at it? Besides being pointless, it is unlikely that any club would shell out for a big name keeper from overseas and anyway, it is the one position where we don't seem to ever be short on talent
Batou
Guest
Benito Carbone and Kazu Miura for Sydney FC in the early years. Both were welcome at the time for a bit of rare publicity and they did add something to the (very weak) team on the field but I think we have moved beyond this now. Get rid of it!
AZ_RBB
Guest
I'm being silly. Ignore me :D
Brendo
Guest
Fuss Also just to correct my Point 1 above. It has been clarified that the MOU is a rolling agreement (ie Doesn't have a end date) and that either party my end it with 1 months notice. As the FFA have chosen to do so, the use of the word "terminated" would seem to be correct. However just to also restate this does not mean that the FFA have withdrawn recognition of the PFA as the legal rep of the players.
At work
Roar Rookie
One thing is certain and that is David Gallop is not afraid of the media and will get on the front foot when needed.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Thanks, Brendo. David Gallop is the best sporting administrator in Australia during my lifetime so it's good to have him come out & release a strong statement that addresses the issues.
Brendo
Guest
Fuss Here is the FFA statement http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/ffa-statement-regarding-cba/rou0pgwexz04146g3t423sbrd Read both carefully and with an open mind and then tell me which rings with more truth.
At work
Roar Rookie
That's a very good point Brendo. If the cap was raised by 4.3% and those other allowances scrapped, where do we think that 4.3% would go to. My guess is one of the top players in the squad, not to the lower players in the squad that the PFA are trying to protect.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Brendo Very interesting comments. You seem to have access to good information - do you have a link in relation to Point 1. If what you've said is true, the PFA are being very loose with the truth.
Midfielder
Guest
Why
Brendo
Guest
PFA continue to play funny buggers. 1. FFA have not withdrawn recognition of the PFA, they have in fact allow the MOU to expire. (Not terminated as some people are claiming) Yes this does mean that the FFA are under no obligation to deal with the PFA (as the MOU outlined a agreement by both parties that the PFA is the legal and agreed representative of all players) but it in no way means that FFA will now NOT recognize them. It is likely the FFA has taken this step as a way of applying pressure (they could have just allowed the MOU to roll over until the end of the CBA negotiations) but the PFA is being deliberately misleading with its language here to inflame the situation. I have seen nothing from either party stating that the FFA is refusing to accept the PFA as the legal representative of the players in CBA negotiations 2. PFA statement is deliberately misleading. The PFA insistence that the Cap is not increasing is deliberately hiding the truth that the overall TPP will increase by around 4-5% at least due to the initiatives announced yesterday. And for them to state that they were unaware of these initiatives just rings completely untrue as all of them have been bandied around for at least the last month.
Brendo
Guest
To be honest the PFA are playing funny buggers here. They well know these initiatives add 4-5% (and for some clubs a lot more) to the overall TPP but choose to claim that the FFA is refusing to raise the Cap. How about this. FFA now comes out and says, due to pressure for a cap increase the FFA will have to rescind the $50K increase in the Home Grown Allowance and do away with the $55K in the Mature Aged Rookie Measure. This $110K will be used to increase the Cap to $2.66M, presenting a 4.3% increase to the Salary Cap. Would that satisfy the PFA? I thought not.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
We live in interesting times!!!!
AZ_RBB
Guest
Wouldn't happen if the NSL and its real clubs were still around.
Midfielder
Guest
Talk of a players strike ...
At work
Roar Rookie
I think there is a salary cap exemption to cover long-term injured players, but the guest spot could also be used in situations such as this.
nearpost
Guest
Yep get rid of it. When was it ever used? Villa 4 games, Romero over 40...years old. Any other time? Complete waste of time. Do we really want "guests" popping in for 10 games of a hit and giggle. Don't care who it is, its a farce. Stuff the guest - buy a marquee