FFA board backs independent A-League recommendations but negotiations far from over

A tearaway A-League is a step closer after FFA’s board endorsed the recommendations of the body tasked with nutting out the specifics, but Brexit-style talks set to run down to the wire.

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A tearaway A-League is a step closer after Football Federation Australia’s board endorsed the recommendations of the body tasked with nutting out the specifics.

But the reality remains anything but simple, with the so-called New Leagues Working Group (NLWG) still in the thick of complex Brexit-style talks set to run right up until the June 30 deadline.

A-League club chairmen held an all-day meeting in Sydney yesterday to continue nutting out particulars of their wishes, with designs on having a final blueprint signed off and ratified in time for next season.

FFA Chairman Chris Nikou knows the game has to move forward. Image: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

However they’ll have to persuade the nine state federations who, along with the women’s council, have the final say and are believed to be seeking a 10 per cent share of any future club sale.

It’s understood the clubs have come to a general understanding with FFA on how an independent A-League would be managed, though money remains the main sticking point.

Payment for the intellectual property of the clubs’ brand names and logos remains a major issue, with clubs reluctant to pay more for the FFA-owned properties into which they’ve already invested heavily.

A second point of contention relates to FFA’s apparent desire to move all its A-League staff over to the separate competition.

FFA chairman Chris Nikou said it was in the governing body’s “best interests” to back the first report, which establishes ‘key principles’ for the new league.

But he warned negotiations were far from over.

“This is the beginning of the journey and we must all work together and continue to participate in negotiations regarding a new professional leagues model,” Nikou said.

“The recommendations of the NLWG will be considered during negotiations, but there is still plenty to discuss and negotiate.

“The adoption of any new professional leagues model and agreement to enter into any legal agreements to give effect to such a model would be a matter for the FFA Board’s subsequent decision.”