FFA talks continue but handing over A-League control not on table

FFA says there are no plans to hand over full control of the A-League to the clubs in the near future.

FFA chief executive David Gallop.

Football Federation Australia says there are no plans to hand over full control of the A-League to the clubs in the near future, but have confirmed they are committed to looking at ways to take the national competition forward.

There was confusion yesterday after a newspaper report suggested the sport’s head body had told club owners at a meeting on Tuesday they were prepared to relinquish control of the national competition as early as next season.

However, the indication from sources who attended the meeting is that there was no hard and fast commitment, no model nor any details put forward by FFA chairman Steven Lowy.

FFA chief executive David Gallop, in Singapore, yesterday told The Australian the head body had decided they “must develop a new operating and ownership model for the A-League and W-League”.

“We need to increase the value of the licences for the current owners and to encourage new investors in the current clubs and any new ones,” Gallop said. “There are a variety of models that could be adopted and we want to work through the ­options with the clubs.”

It is highly unlikely FFA would relinquish total control of the A-League as they look to a model that would be mutually beneficial to both parties.

The A-League, which secured a $346 million, six-year broadcast deal with Foxtel late last year, is responsible for almost 80 per cent of FFA’s revenue and without that financial backing the head body would struggle to fund entities such as the Socceroos, Matildas, the eight or nine national age teams, the game at grassroots and the various state and territory federations.

“It’s important to recognise that while the clubs have a direct responsibility for their clubs and to their shareholders, which is completely appropriate, FFA has responsibility for the whole of the game in Australia, the grassroots and national teams,” ­Gallop said. “Our commercial partners generally take a position across the whole game — touching the elite professional level and the mums, dads and kids who make up the base of our pyramid in massive numbers.

“We need to be careful to encourage that connection and investment too.”

The A-League clubs met Lowy and Gallop on Tuesday to discuss proposed changes to FFA’s constitution, under which see the voting structure for its congress will increase from 10 to 17. At present the nine state and territory federations have a vote each and the 10 A-League clubs have one combined vote.

It was mooted the clubs’ vote would increase from one to three while groups such as beach soccer, Futsal, the women’s game, referees and the players would also be given a vote each. This was rejected by the clubs, who are seeking as much as a 40 per cent say in running the game.

As revealed in The Australian yesterday, a three-man delegation of club owners insisted on a follow-up meeting with FFA on Wednesday. Gallop confirmed the meeting took place but did not want to discuss it.

“The proposals around the make-up of the congress are ongoing matters with the clubs and member federations and the PFA,” Gallop said. “There was an agreement not to discuss those specific details outside the meetings. Changes like these can’t be resolved in a single meeting or a single day. What is important is that we are talking and that we work through all sides of the debate.”