Independent A-League

not sure it'd be a positive for the Nix, I've heard Domey etc say in the past that they would lose a lot of their sponsors to an Auckland based side. hence I don't think money would be the biggest issue for Auckland. The biggest thing they face is finding a decent stadium, developing Eden Park outer oval could be an option but can't see it happening

I doubt it, must sponsors are wellington businesses, the exceptions being the multinationals.

It will add interest in the comp, increase exposure, and increase rivalry and crowds.

Huawei are pretty much the only sponsor that matters.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/11...

Yep, and right now they seem more interested in advertising to the NZ government than the public.

More likely an overseas consortium will be interested in an A league Licence - and they will bring their own sponsors. Would love Nestle to buy in and promote Auckland Jaffas FC. More likely an Asian telco/airline/energy/betting/tourist company. 

Whittaker's sponsoring the Nix would be awesome.

Are betting companies allowed to sponsor teams in the A-League? I can't recall seeing any ads.. Whereas in Italy and the rest of the world every second sponsor is a betting agency...

Did anyone see or vote in this survey

only 1000 people interviewed, I'd suggest that it was completed in Aussie only - probably 500 from Melbourne and 500 from Sydney

Are the results really that surprising? I mean, I'd have thought that Victory had better support than Sydney, but other than that, looks like what you'd expect, really.

Only better crowds and paid up members...iirc

I never understand this Aussie fixation with members, surely it comes from their weird booze licencing where it's cheaper to get hammered at a sports club then a pub so people pay membership money for the privilege of a "schooner" that's not completely rip-off.   

Football wise, they don't seem to be season ticket holders, so what are they? Surely anyone who regularly attends is a member by default whether they have a season ticket or not.

Exactly Marty. 

MARCH 11, 2019 by Ray Gatt  - The Australian

The relationship between Football Federation Australia and the A-League clubs has reached almost toxic levels in a fight centred around millions in broadcast money and fears the competition has become dramatically less attractive to television networks.

In a strongly worded letter sent to FFA chairman Chris Nikou last week, which has been seen by The Australian, Australian Professional Football Clubs Association chairman Paul Lederer made it clear that the organisation, which represents all 10 A-League clubs, is tired of the stalling tactics.

“Everything that has been put to date by FFA as part of their contribution to the New Leagues Working Group is contrary to the position that you have put to us of being supportive of an independent A-League,” Lederer told Nikou.

The letter came to light on the same day the NLWG, which was formed to devise a path towards an independent national competition by the end of this month with an aim to kick off the new season in October, gathered for a two-day meeting in Sydney yesterday. In his letter, Lederer, who is a part-owner and chairman of Western Sydney Wanderers, raised a number of concerns and warned of serious consequences around FFA’s role in the process.

They include:• Disagreement over the figure FFA should receive from the Fox Sports broadcast rights; • Rebuttal of a report delivered by sports management consultants the Gemba Group, commissioned by FFA, which APFCA claims is out of date;• Suggestion that a subsequent Gemba report, commissioned by the clubs, forecast the commercial value of the A-League in 2018-2019 had declined by 36 per cent;

• Laid the blame squarely at the feet of the FFA for “the failure of the administration to operate the League at best practice levels”.

The core of the issue appears to be a conflict regarding each organisation’s share of the broadcast rights when the A-League becomes a separate entity.

It is understood the FFA believes the clubs should receive 82.5 per cent of the rights but the clubs are demanding 90 per cent.

As it stands, the broadcast rights, which came into effect in 2017 and end in 2023, are worth $346 million over six years. The 10 clubs each receive $3,063,000 per season to cover the salary cap after initially demanding $6m each.

Angered by the failure to get what they deemed a fair deal, the clubs led the way last year in the seismic reforms that saw the calls for an independent A-League, a new constitution, a fairer voting structure and a new FFA board put in place.

Lederer, a vocal critic of the FFA, provided financials which he said “show the commercial reality of the attribution rate which is 90 per cent of the revenues from the Broadcast Agreement”.

“You will see that APFCA has proceeded on the basis that the proposed 82.5 per cent revenue share of the broadcast agreement revenues as are proposed by FFA is simply too low and without a proper factual basis. The enclosed financials attached adopt what we say is the commercial reality of the attribution rate which is 90 per cent,” Lederer wrote.

Lederer warned Nikou of the “parlous state of the game in Australia”.

“I provide these financial documents to you well in advance so as to enable the (FFA) board to carefully examine and consider not only the current parlous state of the game in Australia but the reality that unless an independent A-League is created without delay the financial position of the FFA will only worsen,” he said.

“By the time the current broadcast agreement expires in four years time there will be no product that the owner of the League will be able to convince either Fox Sports or anyone else to invest in.”

Lederer’s concerns come off the back of the A-League’s terrible ratings, which have declined dramatically this season, leading to speculation Fox could be reconsidering how much they are willing to pay when the next deal comes up for negotiation.

In terms of the Gemba report commissioned by FFA, Lederer said it was done on the 2015-16 A-League season and that the clubs had “obtained an up to date report from Gemba as to whether the opinion and data that it provided to the FFA Board, in 2016 had remained constant, had improved or had worsened”.

“It is my singularly unpleasant duty to tell you that since you commissioned the modelling of the A-League report by Gemba, it has now provided its opinion that the forecast commercial value of the A-League in 2018-2019 has declined by 36 per cent.

“That is a catastrophic outcome for the game in Australia. The opinion of Gemba is that since the delivery of its report to FFA, reach figures have declined at an accelerated rate that has deviated significantly from what was previously projected. Furthermore since that report, Gemba has determined that the A-League has lost significant ground to benchmark leagues in Australia. Gemba has therefore adjusted IP to reflect more realistic benchmark rates.” 

... so there are no leaks or whispers about the long-term future of the Nix?

"The other challenge, is we have no voting rights at club or FFA level. We don't get to put forward our community or club thoughts at the moment.

They knew this for along time before they finalised their finalised proposal and accepted the invitation. 

But wait lets complain now to our future fans.

NOTE: Also they stated that the "current A-league Clubs Just Take Take Take" 

But shied away from Nix Out. 

"We are in favour of promotion and relegation," said Krslovic. "Central Coast Mariners are the best example – we need promotion and relegation." 

More Qzzy forunittrd beginning to accept the Nix are in for the long halll

Some even suggesting kiwi player become non bibs spots in Oz teams 

10 days for NLWG  to report back ?

A clear head speaks out!

Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC) chairman Rabi Krayem says fans have jumped the gun in relation to the introduction of promotion and relegation, declaring the sport is in disarray and needs to sort itself out first.

While expressing disappointment with the controversial comments made by Football Federation Australia chairman Chris Nikou on Sunday that promotion and relegation is a long way off, Krayem called for calm and a level-headed approach in order to fix the game’s ills.

Outraged fans took to social media on Sunday after Nikou, speaking at the Football Writers Festival, suggested promotion and relegation wouldn’t come into effect in the A-League until 2034.

That also prompted responses from FFA board members Remo Nogarotto and Joseph Carrozzi, with both appearing to distance themselves from the comment.

Nogarotto used his Twitter account to say: “I have no idea if Chris has been misquoted or if his comments were taken out of context but I can assure you that to the best of my knowledge, and unless it predates my election, it does not represent any board resolution, so can only be a private view.”

FFA later issued a statement clarifying the chairman’s comments.

The statement read in part: “Under the terms of the existing Club Participation Agreement (CPA), existing and incoming Australian A-League clubs are entitled to participate in the A-League until the year 2034.”

Speaking to The Australian, Krayem, who is involved in a working group for the formation of a national second division competition, said Nikou had “inflamed the situation” regarding promotion and relegation but that it wasn’t the whole issue.

“The game is in disarray. We have an A-League going for independence, which everyone agrees with,” Krayem said yesterday.

“If the A-League doesn’t sort itself out then we will have nothing to promote and relegate to and from.

“We need to fix the A-League first and we have a three-year window to do it in with the new television contract coming up for renewal.

“As I see it, there are three components.

“One is to get the A-League sorted to make sure it is ongoing and survives financially.

“Two is we have to get the second division up and running and stable and financially viable, and three we have to get promotion and relegation sorted. The A-League clubs are not against it. It’s just a matter of working through how it will operate.

“What everyone is doing is jumping to number three without fixing one and two.

“One and two are working concurrently through the new leagues working group and the national second division working group.”

Krayem went on to issue a statement late yesterday afternoon in which he “heartily endorses” Nikou’s comments regarding sorting out the right model for the proposed national second division, which is hoped to kick off next year and will likely involve a number of NPL clubs, who are represented by the AAFC, around the country.

RAY GATTSPORTS REPORTER

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/aleague-woes-must-be-fixed-before-promotion-relegation/news-story/7c02fd2bca2fe790f1014e96636e4444

Do any of you guys with a nose for Australian domestic football have a list of probable clubs that will form part of division 2?

You would expect South Melbourne to be on to it, and the same with Brisbane Strikers or possibly APIA Leichhardt if they are interested. And of course the Greenies that nearly went very far in the FFA Cup.

Just as it was before Aus team off to Asia.

It would be nice to see the Fury and GC United back.

T- 4 days

(can't remember how may day in March but it could be mooooooooore

• South Melbourne United
• Bentleigh Greens SC
• Heidelberg United
• Woollongong Wolves FC
• Sydney Olympic
• Sydney United
• Marconi Stallions
• Blacktown City FC
• APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC
• Brisbane Strikers FC
• Queensland Lions FC
• Adelaide Comets FC

Thats 12 teams, I'd imagine if the 2nd Div is made up of existing clubs a fair few will be some of the clubs listed above

So more SYD and MEL teams, yay (not).  I'd like to see a team from North Queensland, Canberra and Tasie thrown in.  

Also aren't the Lions and the Roar the same team, they certainly used to be?

So now I'm praying for the end of FFA Control 

To hurry up and arrive 

'Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you

I don't think that I can really survive
I'll never break my promise or forget my vow
But god only knows what I can do right now
I'm praying for the end of FFA Control
It's all that I can do (oh oh oh)
Praying for the end of time, so I can end my frustration with you

This is getting boring and monotonous. At the end of the season, please end the FFA influence, let the owners take over and let the Nix have some clarity that they will be here for a lot longer so that deals, transfers, contracts etc can be negotiated and signed. This hanging on and haning on is worse than an episode of Married at first sight, New Zealand edition...

Clear direction and guarantee. Not really a hard thing to ask is it?

The Australian has obtained a draft of the comprehensive 41-page document, which details 24 recommendations for the introduction of the second tier, likely to be known as The Championship, below the A-League in 2021.

Among the key recommendations under consideration are:

• The league be introduced by 2021;
• A 10 to 16-team competition that would allow for 25 per cent of the teams from smaller regions (depending on the eventual size of the league) to be quarantined;
• No promotion or relegation for the first two years;
• Promotion and relegation between the new competition and the tiers below it to be introduced between five and 10 years;
• Clubs limited to two foreign players each;
• Clubs to ideally have stadiums with a minimum capacity of 5000 and maximum of 15,000;
• Provide a time line “to build women’s teams attached to the second division”.

It is understood the draft has now been distributed among the various stakeholders of the game for feedback and possible changes before it is officially signed off and delivered to FFA.

In a move of great foresight, one of the more significant initiatives of the second division includes the provision to promote and expand the game’s footprint into regional towns or cities with a population of under 600,000 so that the league is not dominated by teams based in the major capital cities.

That would provide scope for the inclusion of teams from places such as Cairns and Hobart and providing a broader base to be involved in professional football.

As to who will run the competition, it is believed there are three options: FFA, which will relinquish the A-League once it becomes independent; it is run as an independent competition; or it is licensed back to the AAFC.

Among a raft of changes following the restructuring of FFA’s voting congress, the head body instigated the National Second Division Working Group late last year. It is working in parallel with the New Leagues Working Group which is looking into forming an independent A-League.

The NSDWG held its first meeting late last month but, under chairman Remo Nogarotto, who is also on the board of FFA, and Rabi Krayem, chairman of the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC), has moved quickly to get the process up and running.

Under Krayem, the AAFC has been the prime mover in the push for a second division after it was first mooted in 2017. The NSDWG has sensibly opted to take a careful, detailed and steady approach to ensure it is given the best chance for success.

Much of the concern from outsiders around the implementation of the second division is the cost factor and whether it can be funded properly and without financial issues.

However, The Australian understands there is a commitment to only spend money that the competition gains from revenue, which insiders say “puts to bed people saying we can’t afford to do it”.

Significantly, the final paragraph in the white paper says they are “of the view that the commercial model should be aligned with the principle of being financially sustainable. As such, a cost structure should reflect the amount of revenues that are likely to be achieved by the NSD”.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/football/national-second-division-a-step-closer-with-ffa-to-consider-detail/news-story/103842dc53243578e180f0f7e5659030

Never enough Meatloaf in this world!

NLWG struggling to agree on Inependent Structure

Delay on the cards

"A-League clubs are requesting a 90 per cent share of the broadcast revenue"

"The two parties are also yet to agree on an annual payment from the new entity run by the clubs to FFA to assist with grass roots and national team programs."

JCTrialist

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April 01, 2019 8:21am#25

I don't think anyone has posted this yet, but apologies if it's considered to be on wrong thread. It's a good example though of the current complexity of the situation that the Nix are having to work their way through before anything can be done about Rudan, Kurto and any others.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/devil-in-the-d...

"Sunday’s report will inevitably spark further debate. Eventually the FFA board will need to put recommendations for the new look A-League management company to the sport’s Congress for a vote – but at that vote, unless the franchise is changed, neither the A-League clubs nor the players union, the PFA, will have a vote but the federations will."

I wonder if some clubs are purposely slowing the process down to unsettle us as the playoffs approach and to ensure good players leave and so we're weakened for next season.
I know most club owners want us to stay.. But a couple of months' delay could play nicely into their hands.

It's not really the clubs slowing it down, more that their original proposal left a lot of question marks for the state federations and the FFA, so there was only going to be a lot of horse trading and politicking before the new league model is agreed upon and established.

Why would the Australian state federations be prepared to trash a deal just to kick the Nix out?

Our enemies were the old FFA leadership who thought they could make more money from reassigning our licence. The state feds have an issue with the power of the A-League clubs in general, but I've never heard they have problem with us in particular.

Some of the state federations are very anti-NZ presence in the A-league, some of which is purely emotional/philosophical, some of which is more political and/or commercial. In the early years of the league, the FFA were actually supporters of NZ presence in the league in the face of opposition from the state federations, but the FFA's willingness to carry the torch cooled down a few years back (and that for a number of different reasons too).

I thought the FFA were supporters because it was a requirement by the OFC to have a team in the A-League for ten years for letting them leave.

This....doesn't seem great.