A-League’s financial problems won’t stop plans for a national second division
Football Australia won’t commit to saving the financially embattled A-League, but remain intent on starting a national second division.
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Football Australia remains committed to starting a national second division competition next year despite the A-League’s current financial crisis.
Eight clubs – APIA Leichhardt, Avondale, Marconi Stallions, Preston Lions, South Melbourne, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58 and Wollongong Wolves – have been admitted into the new professional national second-tier competition to be run by FA.
Up to four more teams could also join the competition in time for its first season, with FA giving itself until the end of June to confirm the addition of any additional teams.
“It’s happening – we’re not changing our plans,” an FA spokesman said on Wednesday.
However, the FA remained non-commital on whether it would move to again take control of the A-League men’s and women’s competitions, which have been run by the Australian Professional Leagues for the past three years since the “unbundling” of the sport domestically.
FA still oversees the A-League’s disciplinary and integrity issues, registration of clubs, players and officials, the transfer system and the draw, as well as still having the final say on expansion.
The APL board also includes an FA representative, and retains “good of the Australian game” rights in respect to the APL.
That applies to a host of matters “aimed at ensuring the ongoing growth” of the APL.
The APL has operational, commercial and marketing control of the A-League, and is responsible for finding the funds needed to run the men’s and women’s competitions.
However, the APL has struck financial trouble, with almost half of its staff having been made redundant this week as part of a restructure made to “create efficiencies through consolidation”.
“At this stage, we will not be offering any specific comments on this matter,” an FA spokesman said.
The APL offered no further comment on its financial problems when contacted by News Corp Australia on Wednesday.
Originally published as A-League’s financial problems won’t stop plans for a national second division
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