Socceroo Tim Cahill says he’s open to playing in A-League but wants FFA to formulate long-term vision to develop the game

TIM Cahill believes many top players have had their careers destroyed by playing in the A-League and he has called on David Gallop and FFA to show him why he should return to the A-League.

Cahill

TIM Cahill insists he hasn’t closed the door on a return to Australia, but has called on David Gallop and Football Federation Australia to show him a true vision for the future.

“I’ve seen the record with short-term goals of going back to the A-League and the destruction that it’s had on top players’ careers who have come back to finish there,” Cahill told The Daily Telegraph from China on Thursday.

After being sensationally cut by Shanghai Shenhua just three months into his new contract, finding a new club is an immediate priority and Cahill will almost certainly remain in Asia for the next six months at least.

Socceroo Tim Cahill in Shanghai.

And while he admits there is “no shadow of a doubt” that he has contemplated playing in the A-League, he has some real concerns about how the competition has failed to capitalise on having the marquee stars Alessandro Del Piero, Shinji Ono and Dwight Yorke feature in it.

“There’s no shadow of a doubt that I think about it (playing to the A-League), it’s where I was born and I’ve never closed the door on the A-League,’’ Cahill said.

Cahill, 36, has also seen a number of former Socceroos return home, only to virtually disappear into the abyss.

“A guest stint for anyone can only harm you and coming back without any sort of plan and substance is always a recipe for disaster,’’ Cahill said.

“Del Piero was one of the biggest things to ever happen to the game, but also the worst because it wasn’t capitalised on.

“Then to have all these players that have been linked with the A-League — Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard — I don’t think the talks even get to the table because there’s no vision behind the talks.

Socceroo Tim Cahill hasn’t ruled out a return to the A-League but wants football’s governing body to develop a long-term plan for the competition.

“I just need vision, I’ve never asked for anything but that. The only thing is, some people’s vision is not as big as mine and it’s tough, because it depends where they want to be. Where does the A-League want to be?”

In the 48 hours since his contract with Shanghai was terminated there have been calls to get Cahill back to Australia and he understands the frustration from fans that it hasn’t happened yet.

He knows the impact he could make, especially with a new broadcast deal around the corner, but in truth Cahill is worried about where the game is at in the country.

“The biggest impact I make is with the Socceroos. Every time I go back it’s mayhem and you don’t understand how that makes me feel, but at the moment the game is in a bit of a rut where it’s caught in a crossroads,” he said.

“We’ve played in three World Cups and we don’t really have anything to show for it. We have a problem with the grassroots and the biggest thing we need to ask ourselves is, with the national team, why we’ve gone three years without a key sponsor.

Tim Cahill celebrates scoring for the Socceroos.

“When I look at it, I know exactly the impact it will make, but for some people short-term is better, a quick highlight, but it’s never been that. I’ve always wanted long term and it’s never come into fruition at all.”

The A-League might not have the finances to compete with Asia, nor the strategy of the MLS, but Australia does have something to offer and Cahill has challenged FFA to sell that and, most importantly, decide what direction to take.

“We have the lifestyle, the great schools, great cities and multiculturalism. The only thing we don’t have is investment in the game,” he said.

“What do we want to be? Do we want to be the biggest code in Australia and attract the biggest players to Australia?

“It’s not about me, it’s about where they want to be. It’s about whether the owners and the Federation want to see the bigger picture, or if we’re happy where it is.”