The PFA says the APL’s rushed expansion plans could further derail the A-Leagues

Professional Footballers Australia are concerned the APL’s push to expand could be detrimental to the A-Leagues, citing the former failed teams of the competition and the NSL as examples.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 18: Shane Stefanutto of the Roar contests the ball with David Williams of the Fury during the round 19 A-League match between the North Queensland Fury and the Brisbane Roar at Dairy Farmers Stadium on December 18, 2010 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Professional Footballers Australia are deeply concerned by the APL’s push to expand the A-Leagues in such a short time frame – warning rushing the process was detrimental to the competition.

A-Leagues commissioner Nick Garcia confirmed this week the APL was just weeks away from announcing the new Canberra team.

The new team is expected to incorporate the existing women’s team Canberra United, which is run by the territory’s governing body Capital Football.

The new outfit will be the second new club joining for the 2024/25 season with AFC Bournemouth owner Bill Foley being awarded a licence for a second New Zealand team in November last year.

Bill Foley of Black Knight Football Club (L) and Nick Garcia, A-Leagues Commissioner. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images for A-Leagues

PFA co-chief executives Kathryn Gill and Beau Busch said the PFA had not been consulted or part of the discussion regarding the expansion plans.

With the APL last month announcing a massive restructure which resulted in half of its staff being made redundant and questions unanswered over the financial state of the competition and production costs associated with the broadcast deal Busch and Gill questioned if pursuing expansion was the right way to go.

“It is a critical time for the leagues and key decisions, such as expansion, must grow the leagues’ commercial capacity, build the fan base for the game and enhance the quality of the league and our national teams,’ Busch said.

“While eager to grow the game’s professional footprint, the players need to be satisfied that the case for expansion is overwhelming, as the case was for Western Sydney.”

Busch said the PFA was yet to see any evidence or details of the bid.

Seven of the eight original A-Leagues clubs are still in the competition – with New Zealand Knights folding after struggling to deliver results across its first two seasons.

Two of the foundation clubs have since encountered significant financial woes with Perth Glory currently without an owner and Newcastle Jets propped up by a consortium of rival club owners.

The failed Gold Coast United FC vs. Brisbane Roar FC.

There have been several failed attempts to expand the A-Leagues with Gold Coast United FC and North Queensland Fury FC folding within four years.

Sydney Rovers were supposed to join the league in 2011 but collapsed before even playing a match.

Western United have been a solid addition to the competition, particularly their women’s team who contested the grand final in their first season, but they don’t have a home ground – with their stadium not due to be completed until 2026.

Macarthur FC was granted a licence to the men’s competition in 2020/21.

Neither club attracts huge crowds to their home games – Macarthur FC’s average for the 2022/23 season was 3514 people a match, Western United attracted, on average, 3100.

A far cry from the 17,000 who watch Sydney FC or the 10,700 fans at Western Sydney home games.

Busch was a player with North Queensland Fury and experienced the impact failed expansion has on a players’ career.

Half of Fury’s squad never played professional football again after the collapse.

“Failed expansion in the A-League, and the NSL before it, devastated fans and the careers of players, while wasting the game’s finite resources,” Busch said.

Shane Stefanutto of the Roar contests the ball with David Williams of the Fury in 2010. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“The players’ long held position is that great ownership, infrastructure that enables an exceptional atmosphere, and a market ready to be tapped are the preconditions for expansion.”

Gill said players’ had been given little detail around the expansion side and there were concerns about how a club can be established in time for the next season which traditionally starts in October.

“The players are uncertain as to the details of the A-League Men’s expansion into Canberra and its potential impact on the A-League Women’s existing Canberra licence,” Gill said.

“They are increasingly concerned about the opportunity to deliver strong, viable teams in the nation’s capital with such a short lead into next season.

“The players will accept a delay in service of getting the decision right and ensuring any new expansion team has the necessary time to succeed.”

Garcia said just last year during an interview with ESPN the ideal scenario was to finalise ownership “14-16 months” before the start of the season.

If a deal is still weeks away from being confirmed the new club could have just eight months to get itself established.

The A-Leagues’ licences are reportedly worth $25 million.

Originally published as The PFA says the APL’s rushed expansion plans could further derail the A-Leagues