Barossa league ‘not bad guy’ in amateur and country football pay controversy

THE Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association (BLGFA) says it will not support a planned statewide cap on player payments in amateur and country football next season.

THE Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association (BLGFA) says it will not support a planned statewide cap on player payments in amateur and country football next season, meaning it could be disaffiliated from the SA Community Football League.

But the BLGFA says it is not a “bad guy” in what has become a heated debate over plans to control increasing payments in country and suburban football.

BLGFA president Mick O’Brien said the competition did not object to the plan to cap team spending on players at $4000 a match but said new regulations were rushed and would have a devastating effect on volunteer numbers.

Under the Australian-first system, clubs will from next season have to submit a greater amount of paperwork and declare all player payments.

Officials and volunteers caught deliberately flouting rules face fines and clubs can be docked premiership points.

“We think it is far too rushed to introduced this next season,’’ Mr Brien said. “The demands this will place on volunteers will be massive and if they make a mistake, then their professional and personal reputation in their own town could be under scrutiny.

“We are a well-run league at present and all of our nine clubs are sustainable and competitive and have the opportunity to play in grand finals.”

The community league will also cap the amount a player in the country can earn at $500 a match, with the exception of one marquee player, who can earn up to $1000. Clubs can pay mileage money to players travelling more than 100km on a round trip and pay match and milestone awards outside of the $4000 cap.

All nine Barossa club voted against an initial proposal for a $3000 cap last month and Mr Brien expected them to again reject the $4000 cap.

“We will be meeting either this week or next week and I don’t believe out vote will change,’’ Mr Brien said. A “no” vote would leave the Barossa isolated and possibly force the community league to consider disaffiliating it. Four other leagues — Mallee, Spencer Gulf, North Eastern and Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara — voted against the initial $3000 cap proposal but all are understood to support a $4000 cap.

The Channel 9 Adelaide (amateur) Football League has voted to ban any players who leave their league to join a cap- non-compliant competition from returning. SA Community Football League chairman David Shipway said he was confident the cap would be in place by next season but there would be no further amendments.

Payments in local football have exploded in recent years, with top players reportedly able to earn as much as $2000 a match and one country club declaring it spent more than $250,000 on players last year.

Angaston Football Club president Keith Jameson said the BLGFA club did not support the proposal because it would make it impossible for the club to compete with larger club in the area.

The club is forced to recruit some players to be competitive against larger clubs with bigger populations.

Mr Jameson also objected to the fact there was no exemption in the cap for paying local players, some of whom worked or studied in the Adelaide but travelled back to play.