A-League clubs and the FFA have been embroiled in an ugly fight for the A-League for over two years. It’s been hard fought, and petty.
Sadly, the league has suffered as a result, with too much time being taken to discuss the politics rather than what’s happening on the field, where the standard is as good as it’s been in years.
But while the clubs are good at criticising the FFA, what have they actually contributed since this bitter feud began?
They actively opposed one of the biggest, and most overdue stories – expansion. They opposed the ‘Asian plus one’ rule, which many see as the future for securing bigger audiences and interest amidst a flatlining Foxtel product.
They openly criticised most aspects of the league at a time when positive PR was needed. They support the Wellington Phoenix, who (despite this season) have been a drag for years and give nothing to Australian football.
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Expansion licenses sold for a reported $15 million each in November. Melbourne Victory openly boast at being valued at $40m. Is the league so broken?
That would mean that club licenses 15 years ago sold for next to nothing, and are now worth $15 million.
With Victory – and possibly others – worth that amount, the league licenses could be worth a collective $200m. Clubs say they’ve lost $250m but that includes Clive Palmer and Nathan Tinkler’s (among others) lost ‘treasure’ – so let’s call it break-even after tax deductions.
The point is, they’ve been good at blaming others – the FFA, the marketing, the expansion approach and the FFA’s approach to the Phoenix – but fail to talk about how much their assets have increased in value, or how they would improve the league.
Western Sydney Wanderers have never said, “sorry, we stuffed up our stadium strategy and that has really hurt the league by going to ANZ”. Sydney FC have showed what a different strategy can achieve.
So then, what changes if they get their independence? What is their strategy? What would they do differently? Saying “FFA is crap” is not a strategy.
Their blueprint says that they would extend benches from five to seven (Recommendation 8) and recognise FIFA windows (Recommendation 9) – although they just agreed to backtrack on that one – and would introduce loans and transfers (Recommendation 10).
This is not much of a strategy – how will extending benches, loans and windows improve broadcast ratings?
I’m not into supporting the FFA much, but I hope they stick to their guns and get the best outcome for ‘football’, not for the hip pockets of rich owners.
If the clubs have a strategy that is better than the one that has grown value for football, then let’s all share in the upside.
If they don’t, then why isn’t a professional partner brought in like many other leagues have – the English Premier League partner with IMG; Major League Soccer partner with Soccer United Marketing; DAZN with the J-League; Lagadere with AFC.
Why isn’t this being contemplated?
Quality marketing (tick). Access to marquee players (tick). Ability to negotiate commercial deals (tick). Knowledge of the changing media market (tick). Management of sports businesses (tick).
Surely these types of groups that would be better than either the FFA or the clubs?
And then, after that’s done, let’s get back to talking about getting marquee players like Fernando Torres into the league and improving the quality on the field.
Kangas
Guest
Mr F Are the A league clubs willing to pay the clubs from the state feds for all the developing of players?? Or will we just 9 Australian clubs full stop and no other clubs in a state or junior competition . It’s a 2 way street and this needs to be addressed imo .
Bludger
Guest
Went past the old Lakeside Oval the other day, Sth Melbourne Hellas were at home to someone. I reckon there was maybe 50 people there besides the players. And they want to be in the top league or to form a second division. Tell them they are dreaming.
jbinnie
Guest
Anthony - Just a minor correction.When the A league was first mooted a licence was priced at $5millions but that was not the only expenditure.An edict was put out describing how the league was to be "populated" and a minimum of 23 players had to be put under contract (before a ball was kicked). Then there was full time coaches and medical staff to be employed and of course someone had to look after the day to day business so an administrative staff had to be employed. Now allowing time has moved on and wage bills have increased,it would be safe to say that at least another $2-3 millions were needed to get the show off the ground. In the following 14 years I think it would be correct to say that figure would now be nearer $10-15 millions so you see running an A league team is not cheap. Now I was involved in the old NSL and happen to know that by 2003 there were not too many clubs in the NSL could ever hope to raise that sort of "seed capital" from their main source of revenue,which,lets be honest, was in handouts from their social club backers. I have an official book in my possession which states clearly that in the season before they were withdrawn from the NSL,the team Hakoah/Eastern Suburbs received $300,000 from their social club and the newly elected committee of that club refused point blank to continue with that largesse. Result---- the NSL's most successful team was no more. So you see entry into the A league had no basis on nationality or religion it was based on ----money,money,money. jb
Griffo
Guest
Even when Leichhardt beat Victory in the FFA Cup the crowd was about 500. Lets all get real about a second division.
Griffo
Guest
At this stage that is
Griffo
Guest
The state leagues want a share of A League revenue to subsidise a national second division that will draw average attendences of no more than 1000 to their games and that will appeal to very limited audiences on tv. There is no way that a national second division can be finavlncially viable on its own when the participating clubs will need to fly squads accross the country and accommodate and feed those squads as well as pay wages. The per game cost involved would be close to $100k. This why the state federstions need a share of A League revenue - they simply cant afford to pay for it. Second division is an unviable pipe dream. Best just to expand the NPL interstate championship tournament as it currently exists.
Beni Iniesta
Guest
Errrggh. Pretty sure the A-League clubs have better ideas of how to run the game than any of these jokers you mention. "why isn’t a professional partner brought in like many other leagues have – the English Premier League partner with IMG; Major League Soccer partner with Soccer United Marketing; DAZN with the J-League; Lagadere with AFC."
Amazon
Roar Rookie
"You are confusing governance of SPORT with governance of a competition" .............no confusion here, just with you. The AFL commission, elected by the 18 clubs, governs both. A democratic process - something very foreign to FFA, FIFA and Aust football in general.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
millions of people playing RL in Vic, SA, WA etc? Not sure where you got that one from.
Nemesis
Guest
You are confusing governance of SPORT with governance of a competition. The sports of Aussie Rules, RL have awful governance structures. Aussie Rules & RL governance are the worst possible examples of how to run sport in Australia. AFL Commission is voted by 18 professional AFL clubs. That's it. No one else. No vote for those allegedly millions of people playing Aussie Rules. No vote for players - professional or amateur. No vote for AFL Women's game. The AFL Commission has the same role for Aussie Rules as FFA + FIFA + IFAB has for football. NRL Commission is slightly better. It gives 1 vote each to RL grassroots in NSW & Qld. But, no vote for those allegedly millions of people playing RL in Vic, SA, WA, etc. No vote for players - professional or amateur. No vote for RL Women's game. For sure, I want ALeague clubs controlling the ALeague competition, but not the sport of football.
pete4
Guest
I believe the APFCA's central issue with the FFA is sharing the $ pie. With growing talk of a second division, lavish spending on our National teams and now State federations lobbying for a cut. The APFCA want to breakaway from the AAFC/FFA so they can control it
Amazon
Roar Rookie
@ N most of the majors..............ACB, NRL, AFL just to name a few in Aust. Many overseas like RFEF in Spain & I think Bundesliga is. Aust Football does not need guidance but unity would be a great start, how else can it move forward?
anon
Roar Pro
AFL is a financial behemoth.
Nemesis
Guest
"Football in Australia lacks independent governance" Which sport in Australia should we look to for guidance on appropriate "independent governance"?
Amazon
Roar Rookie
No good blaming Gallop for all the failings - Football in Australia lacks independent governance, too much self interest, political in fighting and A League clubs looking to re coup lost money. Hardly a single strategy & united focus for a successful code to flourish as it should.
anon
Roar Pro
Has David Gallop succeeded anywhere he's gone? He was ran out of the NRL, now the A-League is close to collapsing on his watch.
Waz
Roar Rookie
I’m not even sure what the point of this article is. Suspect this is an employee of the FFA on a fear, uncertainty and doubt mission. Nothing to discuss here surely. Next?
TK
Guest
I agree the state federations should get out of the way of the professional clubs and stick to their knitting.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
The author asks: "But while the clubs are good at criticising the FFA, what have they actually contributed since this bitter feud began? " How about $350 million in losses over a 14 year period? Also worth noting the article's starting premise is that the current stand-off is between the FFA and clubs. I think you will find that it's not the FFA which is the obstacle, but the state feds, who are looking for a bigger financial contribution from the A-League derived revenue. How unusual...putting out your hand for other people's money.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
If you have access to the financial statements from the A-league clubs please post a link. Otherwise you assertion is just hot air. “With Victory – and possibly others – worth that amount, the league licenses could be worth a collective $200m. Clubs say they’ve lost $250m but that includes Clive Palmer and Nathan Tinkler’s (among others) lost ‘treasure’ – so let’s call it break-even after tax deductions.”