Secret letter reveals A-League men’s clubs want to shut down Football Australia’s new academy

Explosive leaked letter reveals A-League’s men’s clubs are not happy with the prospect of losing their development players to Football Australia’s new pilot academy.

A-League’s Men’s clubs have called for Football Australia to axe its academy program with the nation’s top flight concerned it will “destabilise” the multimillion-dollar programs they have spent years creating.

In an explosive letter, leaked to Code Sports, the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association has provided FA with a list of ways the organisation could better improve youth development outside of mimicking their highly successful academy programs.

The move means players from the new Football Australia academies will play in the NPL against the ALM academy clubs.

Putting them in direct competition and also pulling from the same pool of players.

ALM clubs have a very good system going with their academies helping to produce top-level talent like Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda – who Adelaide United collected a sizeable transfer fee for when he signed with Bayern Munich.

Nestory Irankunda is a product of the A-League clubs academies, specifically Adelaide United. Picture: Maya Thompson/Getty Images

This year alone APL clubs have made $17 million directly from transferring academy players.

ALM clubs are not happy at the prospect of losing these players to a Football Australia-run program.

The letter, signed by APFCA chairman Gino Marra, says the FA academy is “direct competition” to the academy programs A-League’s clubs are required to run in order to maintain their license.

“This program is obviously in direct competition to the extensive and capital intensive initiatives of our members,” the letter states.

“Moreover, the FA’s academy initiative has lacked any meaningful consultation and has been conducted entirely without transparency and collaboration

“The collective spend on A-League clubs on academy initiatives is circa $12 million per year and growing.

“This does not include associated investment in infrastructure. APFCA envisages that the combined operational and capex spend will continue to increase exponentially as clubs concentrate on generating revenues from international transfers.

“Our understanding is that Football Australia has launched a pilot program without identifying any rationale or compelling objective.”

READ THE LETTER HERE

The pilot academy, announced by FA in September, is run in conjunction with Football South Australia, Football Tasmania, Football Victoria and Football West.

Football Queensland and New South Wales were not included.

Information on member body websites shows that each state is taking a different approach.

Academy players in Football West will compete in the Junior Development League competition, one age group up.

Football Tasmania is allowing its academy players to remain and play with their current club but just have extra training sessions with the academy group.

South Australia Football has created development centres in multiple regions to provide extra training sessions for those already playing for a club.

Hayden Matthews has worked his way through the Sydney FC Academy to the Socceroos. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Victorian Academy players will compete in the Junior Boys NPL competition as Football Victoria- Football Australia, in the U14-16 age groups.

This will line the Victorian Academy side up against Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and Western United’s squads.

The APFCA labelled the FA academy as a waste of resources and unnecessary.

“The football development eco system is complex and requires Football Australia, Member Feds, APFCA members and NPL academies to work together,” the letter read.

“The unilateral and draconian approach taken by FA on this matter creates a lack of transparency and destabilising effect that has already been detrimental to the game.”

The APFCA instead called for the academy to be cancelled or frozen, audit the football ecosystem, review the Skill Acquisition Program, identify roles of private academies at all levels and conduct a review ahead of the 2026 season.

A Football Australia spokesman said the program would be reviewed.

“Football Australia values constructive dialogue and is committed to fostering an open and collaborative environment with our stakeholders,” the spokesman said.

“We are currently undertaking a Football Australia Academy pilot program, and upon its completion, we will conduct a thorough review to assess its impact and effectiveness.

“This process reflects our dedication to continuous improvement and meaningful engagement as we work together to support the growth of football in Australia.”

Originally published as Secret letter reveals A-League men’s clubs want to shut down Football Australia’s new academy