FFA wants national second division by 2021, with working group to report to board by November

Developing a talent pathway that allows Australia’s national teams to keep pace with their rivals in Asia is one of the key reasons FFA bosses want to develop another division below the A-League.

A second division should see Australia produce more players like Socceroo Daniel Arzani. Picture: Toby Zerna

• The fascinating back-story of Matildas keeper
• Matildas already behind the eight-ball

A national second division will establish the game’s greatest point of difference from rival codes, Australian soccer chiefs have declared.

An ambitious 2021 start has been tabled by Football Federation, who released their second division white paper on Thursday.

FFA chairman Chris Nikou and board member Remo Nogarotto were available via teleconference, underlining the governing body’s new-found enthusiasm to grow the game, along with NPL clubs’ representative and second division champion Rabieh Krayem.

READ THE SECOND DIVISION WHITE PAPER HERE

While Nogarotto, who chaired the working group, said the second division looks set to feature both new and existing clubs, he hoped it would go some way to ending the “marginalisation” of ex NSL clubs as they edge towards traditional overseas models of promotion-relegation.

A second division should see Australia produce more players like Socceroo Daniel Arzani. Picture: Toby Zerna

A seven-person steering committee – comprising an FFA chair, four state representatives (two state federations and two AAFC/NPL clubs), plus one apiece from the players union and A-League – will report back to the FFA board by November 30, with a view to opening Expressions of Interest in early 2020.

With a minimum eight-club second division recommended, the steering committee must consider:

- Using the second division as the pathway to the A-League, with a view to expanding the top tier to 14-16 teams by 2029;

- Whether it runs in parallel with the A-League or moves to a winter format;

- No more than two visa players per team;

- Opening up transfer fees and loans between the A-League and second division;

- Stadiums between 5000-15,000 capacity;

- Promotion-relegation for the second division within 5-10 years, and thereafter the A-League;

- Establishment of women’s teams attached to the second division teams, and competing at the highest possible local level.

NPL Victoria 2018 champions Heidelberg United could be among teams in a national second division. Picture: AAP

Nogarotto said the white paper was not the “last word”, but it established the second tier as a legitimate policy position for the game.

“The experience around Australia is that second division competitions have not performed very well economically. If ever there is a football code that can make a national second division work, it’s ours because it’s part of the football DNA everywhere in the world,’’ Nogarotto said.

“If we can make this work, we finally delineate our game unambiguously from every other national football code in Australia and create our own DNA and culture. It’s a big challenge but lets not shirk from it.

“It’s an opportunity to bring people in from the cold, recognise tradition and reward clubs that have a sense of ambition.

“We’ll hopefully open the opportunity to access new capital markets, new vehicles for capital for the game at a national second division level.

“Establish a platform that increases the opportunities for young boys and girls to play our game. We need to ensure our game is providing pathways that are both quality and of quantity, if we are to seriously remain (competitive) on the international stage.”

Originally published as FFA wants national second division by 2021, with working group to report to board by November