Football Federation Australia has poured cold water on an ambitious proposal for a national second division, saying it has not been “tested against reality”.
The Association of Australian Football Clubs – a recently-formed lobby group of state-league clubs – released their blueprint on Friday for a new second-tier competition, dubbed ‘The Championship’.
The competition would begin in season 2019-20 aligned with the A-League in the summer months and with promotion to and relegation from the top tier to be phased in by 2025.
It would include between 12 to 16 clubs, mostly drawn from the current NPL ranks, with a forecast annual budget of $2.5 million per team and annual licence fee of $150,000.
The AAFC also wants the winner of ‘The Championship’ to be granted a place in the AFC Champions League.
AAFC chairman Rabieh Krayem said a second division would help provide greater opportunities for young Australian players and, ultimately, grow the sport.
“This isn’t about a breakaway organisation or league,” Krayem said.
“The Championship will contribute to making the football ecosystem bigger and better for everyone and lay the groundwork for helping players, clubs and the code reach its extraordinary potential.”
However the plans are largely predicated on endorsement from FFA and a spokesperson from the governing body suggested AAFC’s ideas were not realistic.
“We have been sent today’s media release by AAFC but we have not yet been engaged by them in any meaningful way about their proposal,” the spokesperson said in a statement provided to AAP.
“It is great for people to have aspirations and because of the things that happen globally in football those aspirations are often very big.
“However aspirations have to be tested against the reality of the local landscape and that unfortunately comes back to available funding and the impact on all the other parts of the game.
“Any second division national competition would need to be sanctioned by FFA and its Member Federations and have broad support, including from A-League clubs to succeed.
“More importantly it would have to be financially viable and sustainable, particularly as it would involve substantial central operating costs.”
The spokesperson said FFA’s first priorities were the establishment of a new operating model for the A-League, and then expansion to 12 teams.
Ronald
Guest
David Gallop has proven time and time again he is the wrong man to lead soccer in this country .some one please fire him . He pours cold water on anything that is good for the game. .I am one of those that don't give a stuff about the A league I do not have a team representing my city or region.we watch the Sydney derby but that's it . so a second division comp would be something I would watch with my family as we would have a team in that comp .football should be about inclusivity not exclusivity .the failure of our national team the falling interest in the A league FTA tV ratings only show how out of touch David Gallop is . David in the NRL comp which you headed for a number of years majority of teams operate at a loss .that seems to be his only excuse to stop expansion in soccer ..expansion is a necessity for both the A league the W league and a Second tier comp with out it our national teams will continue to fail at international tournaments and interest in our code will continue to decline seems to be David Gallop agenda .
Nemesis
Guest
Content is king. A National 2nd Division will give the football community in Australia, who are not watching ALeague, content to watch between October & May each year. LIVE & via visual broadcasts. If we assume 14 team 2nd Division, each playing 13 home matches, we could reasonably expect an average of 10,000 people per game to watch the matches (3k at stadium, 9k Livestreaming). ALeague has an average of around 80k (12k at stadium, 68k Foxtel local & overseas broadcasts). Possibly more when we include pirate streams. Additionally, once clubs are given the opportunity to one day promote themselves into the ALeague, we'd expect a significant chunk of 2nd Division fans to tune into ALeague matches. Just like fans in England from outside the EPL also tune in to watch EPL - not to support any team; just to watch football, knowing their team could be there one day. And, as a football fan, I know I will be tuning in to watch at least one 2nd Division match per week; possibly more. Content is King & football will saturate the screens with content. This weekend I've had football streaming virtually non-stop in the background: Fri: WLeague = 2 matches ALeague = 1 match Saturday ALeague = 2 matches u19 AFC Championship: Aust vs China EPL: Man Utd vs Tottenham Today: ALeague = 2 matches Wleague = 1 match Football never sleeps.
chris
Guest
In NSW there are 12 teams in the womens NPL1 comp and 12 in the NPL2. Quite a few W-League players play in the NPL1 competition in winter. The clubs must field 5 teams being 1st grade, reserve grade, U17's, U15's and U14's. They also have SAP (skills acquisition) programs for the younger ones. Apia & Sydney Olympic (who have desires of being in the Championship) already have women's teams in the NPL2 competition. There is promotion and relegation from NPL1 and NPL2.
Waz
Guest
I agree. So the ffa really have no say in this. You have published reasonable “guesstimates” in the past on what it will likely take to run a team in a second tier and the numbers presented here look to be in line with that. It looks doable to me.
Nemesis
Guest
The proposal outline specifically says: "The budget for the administration of The Championship, including payments to state federations for referees and judiciary services, will be sourced from sponsorship and license fees without any requirement for funding from FFA, the A-League, state federations or NPL clubs. " That seems to be a clear & unequivocal statement about not requiring a cent from the FFA.
Waz
Guest
50% of the population are female; a large and rapidly growing player base is female; and the W League outstrips the NPL for both attendances and viewing figures. The only reason to develop the men’s second division ahead of the women’s premier league would be, err, because they’re men. And if the code wants access to state and federal grants (and most FIFA grants) to develop facilities it has to present equal opportunities for men and women - the W League enables those grants, the AAFCs second division does not. And in a year when the Matilda’s proved the popularity of women’s football, any suggestion not to invest in it is counter to what the public clearly want. And for me, we can have an A League, a W League and a Division 2 - it’s not a case of one or the other.
Waz
Guest
If the FFA have to administer this league, or are asked to fund it, or provide financial guarantees then they have a yay/nay say in it. But if the AAFC can finance it and run it, then it then the FFA will have no choice but to approve it. The AAFC said it would go ahead “with or without the FFA” so now we’ll see. The request for a spot in the ACL looks dumb though in my opinion, it’s distracted from the real debate and makes the thing look more political than genuine competition. I’d like to hear their rationale behind this, especially when it’s a financial killer for A League clubs to compete as it is?
Footoverhand
Guest
FFA has shown they can't multitask, WC bid happened while everything else got ignored. Power struggles have been the focus for a year and criteria for expansion (two years) has been on the back burner, as well as this new operating criteria being ignored for a year. Lucky they locked in that TV deal for 6 years, gives them a good excuse against expansion over that period and they can concentrate on one thing for the next 6 years, ideal for an incompetent leadership.
Footoverhand
Guest
AFC decide the criteria for ACL spots, not the FFA. That being said there is a spot for a cup competition, it's just that the FFA call the finals series a cup competition and a spot goes to the grand final winner, when it should really go to the FFA cup winner where anyone could get in through merritt.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
The demand for a Champions league spot is merely a political manoeuvre and it is actually a pretty sound ploy. What they will try and do is work with the FFA. If the FFA doesn't want to work with this new group then they will seek to go it alone and effectively set up a separate championship to the A-league. They will seek status with the AFC and ask for a spot. Normally this is problematic if the federation complies with every statute within the AFC. Unfortunately the FFA doesn't comply in a number of areas particularly when it comes to pro/rel. This new organisation will be looking to comply from the outset. This would be welcomed by the AFC and might force the FFA to head in this direction regardless.
Evan Askew
Guest
im in agreement that a second division is a good thing but where do they get off demanding a place in the Asian champions league? Are clubs from the English championship going to get a place in the UEFA Champions league?
Nemesis
Guest
Victoria has 10 clubs in the NPL Women's. The NPL is the 2nd tier for Women after the WLeague. I'd need to check, but I'm sure all 8 State Federations have NPL Women's competitions. If this is true, there are around 50-80 senior women's teams playing 2nd tier across Australia right now.
CC_Roosters
Guest
Making a women's team a criteria for admission see to me like an unnecessary burden and risk of the clubs. Running a men's side is expensive enough never mind doubling expenditure on things like travel. pardon my ignorance as I have zero interest in woman's sport but would the woman's game be even close to being able to provide 12-16 teams worth of players for a second tier national league. If it's not self sustaining in terms of interest and finances then it should not be a component of the proposal. Also I think 12-16 is stretching it a bit, why not start with 10 licensed clubs and keep the quality at a high level then add clubs down the road as the competition settles into the sporting landscape. To me a second tier is a no brainer for football in Australia. seems everybody wants it except the FFA as I am guessing they are losing a bit of control.
League table speaks
Guest
Well it's obviously more significant than a women's league. So if that's realistic, why not develop the men's second tier? (The most unrealistic of AAFCs plans are the lady parts...) It should have been done first but PC Principal won out.... :)
mattq
Roar Rookie
is anyone going to ask the question where are they at with the new operating model? Can we get a status update or is it all on hold pending the congress issue?