For 18 years, since the inception of the A-League, the competition has remained relatively stagnant and football has been crying out for a second division.
The promotion and relegation structure of the rest of the world needs to be made to keep up, especially with Asia where football is booming and Australian clubs are left behind in the Champions League.
There is no incentive for teams struggling at the bottom of the table without the reality of not having to battle for survival. It will have the effect of forcing lower clubs to improve as well as make the final few games of the season more thrilling.
Truth is, the gap between the A-League and the National Premier Leagues (NPL) has been far too big for too long. A second division will pave the way for better development and for more youngsters to get an opportunity to play at a higher level.
On Friday afternoon, long overdue news finally broke that Football Australia (FA) has opened a process to invite clubs to a National Second Tier, where clubs have a chance to provide an expression of interest.
“Developing a national second tier competition is a key component of our 15-year vision for the game and our efforts to reconnect and realign Australian football competitions. Australian football has gone on a journey of transformation over the last two years and this is the latest example of us bringing our vision for the game to life,” FA CEO James Johnson said.
Also outlined in the statement was an explanation of how the plan would work, including a home-and-away season with finals accounting for ten-16 teams and a 24-36 game season, as well as the new national tier comprising clubs from the NPL.
Major changes were required in 2004, when then governing body chairman Frank Lowy helped form the new top-tier Australian league, moving away from the National Soccer League (NSL).
The NSL produced some incredible talents and was one of the main reasons why the Socceroos’ golden generation occurred. The development of those top players stemmed from different cultural backgrounds, with development and tactical knowledge consistently on the rise through the guidance of European experience.
Ned Zelic, Mark Bosnich, Mark Viduka, Vince Grella, Marco Bresciano, and Tony Popovic are a handful of prime examples.
(Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)
The financial collapse of the NSL played a big role in the A-League being launched, but Lowy’s vision was to create ‘Australian based’ clubs, which would offer a true identity to different states.
People attached to clubs of the NPL, including fans, have asked the question of why their club wasn’t considered ahead of newly formed teams such as Western United and Macarthur FC.
Certainly there’s always been a fear factor among fans who oppose ethnic clubs being introduced into the A-League.
It is not a matter of racism on their part, however. Football is the world game and inclusion from all backgrounds is what makes it so unique. Their insecurities come from the possibility of spectators supporting and getting behind their ethnic backgrounds more than the actual Australian club itself.
Chants of “Hellas” (Greece) and “Hrvatska” (Croatia) for instance would be passionately shouted during matches.
Crowd trouble have been another concern, with the most recent example being that of Sydney United during the Australia Cup final. What should have been a day of celebration for the club, the first non-A-League side to reach the cup final, instead turned out to be a dark moment for Australian football.
A minority was heard booing the welcome to country before kick-off, making highly offensive gestures such as Nazi salutes, and delivering disgusting fascist chants.
Those scenes were deplorable and there is no room for that in our game.
(Photo by Steven Markham/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
We need to accept that unfortunately it is almost impossible to erase poor crowd behaviour. All sports face the same issue, but culturally it seems football has more problems than it should.
But with the highly anticipated second tier scheduled to commence in March 2024, it is time to accept every NPL club into the A-League and embrace multiculturalism.
Let’s face it, football would not be where it is today if it were not for cultural diversity. That is something that the football community should be proud of.
The A-League can ill afford to repetitively form brand-new clubs from scratch and risk having them collapse and watch millions of dollars go down the drain.
Who can forget the failures of North Queensland Fury and Gold Coast United?
Yes, the potential NPL clubs coming up will need funding to survive, but they are well established with many strong fan bases. Despite being the reigning champions, Western United is still struggling to find an identity.
The most powerful aspect that many NPL clubs possess is their rich history.
From Ange Postecoglou starting his managerial career at South Melbourne, to record crowds reaching over 40,000, there were many highlights that the previous era can translate into the new era.
Many often refer to the NSL as the “old NSL”, referring to that chapter being closed as if it should never be relived again.
Now, the moment has arrived to open a brand new chapter, whereby both A-League and NPL clubs come together to compete and lift the standard of football in Australia.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
I’m with you. That’s what I meant by the quality won’t be there straight away in terms of NPL clubs challenging the top 4-6
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
FFA have and are coming into some serious cash with men’s WC success and up coming women’s WC. I am sure there will be some added funding for the comp coming from there. Many of the “big” NPL clubs have powerful alumni and strong links to community as well as local gvt and business. Not to mention they tend to have their own facilities and sports clubs which very few A league teams have. I understand it is not a great comparison but Dolphins entering the NRL are far more cashed up than many existing NRL teams. As for relegated A league teams, they will have to do the same as relegated Premier league teams, sell off players and reduce staff. All the best premier league player have clauses in their contracts releasing them if they are relegated. I agree finding the money won’t be easy, but there are a lot of factors involved that can contribute to the sustainability of an NSD outside of broad cast rights
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I disagree that the quality won’t be there. If we learned anything from the recent Aus cup, that is that top NPL clubs can push Aleague teams. A new NSD team will attract the best NPL players to it. With that squad now training full time I am sure the top couple of NSD clubs will be able to match the bottom couple of A league clubs. No one expects a promoted team to beat City at the op of the table but a stacked Pen Power could beat a struggling Bne Roar.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So did you actually ever know anything about the NSL? Of the final 13 clubs in the NSL, Perth Glory, Adelaide United, Newcastle United added Jets, Football Kingz became NZ Knights were in the A-league. So exactly how would you have gotten a second division with half the teams. Why wasn't the so called paradise on earth happening in the NSL when things weren't divided as you termed it.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
" Yes, the potential NPL clubs coming up will need funding to survive, but they are well established with many strong fan bases. " From where will the money come? That is key. If it comes through higher fees for juniors (to pay the first team player salaries) then fewer juniors will play, the quality of kids coming through will fall and the overall quality of the game in the country will fall too. Will the money come from increased television rights? I can see no reason why a second division should tempt one of TV networks to offer extra money to cover the A League and tier 2. Should tier 2 be amateur / semi-professional? Should A League and tier 2 clubs receive the same funding? If not, then what sort of safety net should be built in for the A League club that gets relegated (and will have the same salary commitments as last year but will have less money to pay the bills this year). I think that until there is a discussion (and agreement on) a viable funding model, that talk on the desirability or otherwise of a two-tier, promotion/relegation system is premature. There is an observation, variously attributed to The Duke of Wellington, Basil Liddell Hart or General Omar Bradley: "Amateurs talk strategy; professionals talk logistics". When I read discussions about the desirability of a promotion/relegation system, that quote always comes to mind.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
At the start the quality obviously won’t be at the standard of the A-League, but once they are accustomed to the new environment and gain more experience with more eyes watching, it will only do them good and increase the product on show. Depends on the clubs involved as you rightly pointed out
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Ah - use of English. The difference between something written and something spoken. All I meant was that my first concern for watching a game would be the quality on offer. I suppose that might depend on what teams are taking part and what kind of football you enjoy watching.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Don’t think the quality of football should be a concern. What are your reasons for suggesting that?
Buddy
Roar Rookie
These days I really enjoy watching MLS and there is still no relegation or promotion. The expansion has re-ignited a whole lot of interest plus the quality of the players with a raft of players from Central and South America. I expect that it is a cultural thing but all the same I don’t see a second division with ethnic clubs involved as being particularly attractive although my main concern would be the quality of the football on offer.
criag
Roar Rookie
The Victory violence was of course, intolerable, and systematic of other problems we have in society, and that certainly needs to be dealt with at that club and others who cause problems. Not sure we can say all problems with ethnic-based clubs have been put to bed; we don’t have to look too far back at all to see that. But even in saying that, my main objection for giving single-ethnic backed teams an opportunity of playing in the top tier is on principle. I appreciate their part in the history of football in this country, but we needed to move on from it, and we did. I’ve got no real issue with a NSD per se….even if it is in the form of the top few teams from each state playing off for a national second division title, but I am absolutely opposed to promotion/relegation in this country. I just don’t think it will work here or be good for the game.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Just hope that criteria is consistent and allows the opportunity for all clubs to participate
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
At the end of the NSL there were only 5 ethnic clubs left.z The reason Football Australia went broke was actually the PFA specifically Craig Foster. I also think PFA had a lot to do with the reduction of ethnic clubs with all their court cases against them. Who do you think determined the criteria for the NSD, the PFA. Good luck to the NSD now the PFA is going to be there ready to pounce on them.
xeno
Roar Rookie
Good article Christian. The fact that the top league in this country has no promotion/relegation puts it at odds with the rest of the football world, in my opinion it cannot be taken seriously. Let's face it the A League is heading downwards, apart from one or two clubs the crowds are poor and there is little interest other than from the diehards, and many of those are even jumping ship. Those who criticise "ethnic" clubs for violence, ethnic tensions, etc, need only look at the recent Victory vs City match. I've been watching football in this country for 50 years and I've never seen players physically attacked by fans, ever. So that argument is not valid and has been put to bed. And remember, the "old NSL" died more than 20 years ago, it's a different world we live in today. The clubs given entry to the NSD obviously need to be scrutinised before being admitted, and any recent history of bad fan behaviour should automatically exclude them. I believe the NSD can only benefit the sport in this country.
Towser
Guest
Probably not as high crowds as a stand alone League but the interest would have come IMO from those football fans who were not interested in the NSL due to chance of promotion and there were plenty. Of course it’s hindsight so we’ll never know.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Interesting take. Not a bad idea. Only thing is that when the A-League was formed, it created a lot of success in terms of crowds and interest especially early on at its peak, so if they decided to play in a second division back then, I don’t think it would have attracted the same crowd numbers and hype. Maybe that interest would’ve translated to the NPL clubs if they were apart of the first division…
Towser
Guest
I’ve often thought Christian that maybe the whole shebang should have been started the other way round. That is the existing NSL should have been the First division and a Second division should have been in place comprising of new clubs started up as in the A-League in 2005, with P/R from kick off. IMO a different more cohesive football landscape would have evolved than the still divided one we see today.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Fair point, but the A-League has been stagnant for too long now. If only 12 clubs can be established in the space of 18 years, then that’s a massive issue. As weird as it sounds, going backwards in the past is what might be needed to push the game forward
James584
Roar Rookie
Yes, existing clubs have the facilities, expertise and desire. They should be favoured.
criag
Roar Rookie
I think you’ve answered the headline yourself. A club of a single ethnic affiliation is not celebrating multiculturalism, it is celebrating the opposite. We need clubs that are themselves multicultural, which we already have in the A-League. It’s one of the reasons it was created in the first place. By all means, fix the pathways to the top tier for players, but let’s not go backwards!
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Honestly, it will probably end up as the most heated topic that our sport has had to deal with so far in our short history. I’m surprised not as many people are talking about it