The QSL is going bust, IMHO this is a pipe dream and a desperate attempt to look like the game is moving forward in Queensland.

In reality, it's up to the FFA, NSW and Victoria to provide the backbone of such a division. Also most Veto League (Brisbane Premier League) clubs are bigger and better than QSL teams anyway, and with that league being revamped next season, it would take a lot of confidence and trust in the QSL/FFA to bring these teams away from the Veto League, trust that probably doesn't exist.

It might be set up in a conference style structure (think MLS or Super Rugby) to save on costs. This way, it could just be a reorganised/nationalised structure for the state leagues.

Yeah I agree it will have to follow a similar model to America. Hopefully this league will force clubs to be more professional and therefore be a more attractive option to enter into the A-League one day. If this takes off we may have almost seen the last of brand new clubs starting from scratch in the A-League

Is it the first of April? Who is going to pay for this?

will they really go for a national comp for the whole season. Lots of travel lots of costs. I was thinking that they would have the normal state league seasons then top say 2 from each state league goes into a post season comp.

Good idea...

But i don't think their should be promotion/relegation yet to the a-league!! give it 5-10 years, and let everything settle before we start promoting/relegating teams...

My ideal format would be: say 10-15 teams from each state play their own state comps vs'ing each other.. then at the end, the top 5-6(??) teams go through to the finals series which is knockout, obviously last team standing wins the B-league...
theres too much travel, and too many state league teams to form a b-league that verse each other every week... it just isnt feasible!

Bring it on i say!! and lets get this FFA cup cranking!! would love to go down to seymour shaw on a wednesday night, and see the Sutho sharks take on Melbourne Victory..

Bryan said: "I thought the FFA were broke."

Being careful with money is not being broke. Good Fiscal Management means budgets for new projects and not handing out money just because people ask for it. Any competent Club Treasurer knows that. Good on FFA for having a Champions League in the Budget and a vision to the future.

Wonder how this will all fit in the "ongoing war" between Football Brisbane & Football Queensland.
Here in Brisbane we have 2 different entities battling it out for supremecy some clubs aligned to FQ and some to FB and some to both. All the time the goalposts are been changed and guess who is caught up in the middle - The kids!!!
Losing faith in grassroots football - why is it so hard to run our game?
Not to mention the cost - FFA need to have a serious look at grassroots and sort it out because kids (yes our next generation of footballers are been pushed from pillar to post in trying to plan the best pathway for them)
In response to the proposal it sounds great but it will fail in QLD because of the above points

B-League? No thanks. Surely it should be A2-League.

It is impossible to describe how much I agree with this comment in words.

The only I assume it will work is that all of the states leagues play eachother as per usual the the winner of each league will play off in the "APL"

Otherwise there is no possible way this could work costs wise.

East Australian Premier League*

Would hope not.

At the moment if an A-League side is looking for an inform player for a specific position in the middle of the season, they have to go overseas because the lads in the lower tier haven't kicked a ball for months. If we have the leagues running at the same time proper scouting can be done - players can be loaned out for match fitness, etc. The two leagues help each other.

Fantastic move if the FFA can get it right.

Very interesting from FFA, I want to be excited but am equally dubious of how this is to be put together. So many questions yet to be answered.

surely Premier League is the wrong name for this league if it is a second tier. I like B-league to keep with the alphabet theme we already have but realise there is a precedent with the J2, K2.

Premier (adjective) first in rank; chief; leading.

It certainly would be nice to see a lot more information. In principle, it sounds like a great idea with a way for the FFA to really incoporate grass roots football into the A-League.

How would you know?

You would think so. I believe the Spanish 2nd or 3rd division plays under a pool system which would suit our geography as well. Really looking forward to this if it gets off the ground especially if the mariners youth are involved and it gets on free to air.

Be great if the FFA can pull it off, the creation of a national tear or close to one would help the game alot! [-o<

Just make sure it includes the a-league youth/reserve teams so they can play all-year round eg Sydney FC B/Youth etc.

Edited by Barca4life: 4/5/2012 12:06:33 PM

There are a lot of questions to be answered on this, namely how will it be commercially viable. Travel costs will not be cheap, and will it not divide fan interest with the HAL?

Also think the 'premier' name is daft.

This is just part of the ongoing spat between Football brisbane and football queensland and who best serves football in SEQ.
My money is on football brisbane .
APL is a regional conference ie by state.

How are these clubs going to afford it - going interstate for matches is a big hike in expenses ?

Will the state bodies just slug juniors with higher registration fees to support it, or will there be a 'real' revenue stream to pay for it all.

If it happened and was televised - it would be a good watch.

I tend to think that it may well just be a champions league type structure, with top teams from each state's Premier League playing each other in a Summer tournament. It may well be part of a broader FFA Cup plan, but one that limits costs at the same time to implement the idea.

So many ideas, so many challenges to face. Still exciting though.

For such a giant thing, and important article, it doesn't really say very much at all. I'm guessing it will just be an East Coast thing?

Cant see how this could work, as much as i want to. if the HAL clubs are bleeding money, and complaining about costs and transport, accomodation etc how on earth are the B league clubs going to afford the same costs??

It costs the same amount to send a league team from Brisbane to Melbourne as it does an Aleague team.....

If the Aleague cant find the dollars or sponsorship for this, and want the FFA to foot the bill then unless FFA foots the bill for this too how on earth will it happen?

And you think this will eb on tv?? the Aleague gets decent coverage, but anything more than a highlights show would be overkill for this. You really want more competition for the Aleague on TV??

^^^^^^^^^
That is so poorly written it's incredible.
Maybe they could throw this on ABC or something. That would be cool, like the WAFL is.

If they can make this happen, kudos. Will def look forward to it!

Those even contemplating promo/relegation have absolutely no clue. no a-league team would survive. Id say it will be a conference type league, basically a champions league. Top teams come together in the summer for a tournament. It would be irresponsible to attempt to make it a week-in week-out competition.

Doubt any of the old NSL teams would be interested in this comp. As they dont like who is running FFA if he ( Lowy ) left they might get interested, but with him still at the helm i doubt it very much.

Because NSWPL clubs have already stated that it is not sustainable and they will take no part. The costs V income means they will run at huge losses.

Even Clive Palmer and Nathan Tinkler wouldn't be silly enough to throw money down the drain with this idea.

Don't get me wrong the idea is a good one but the reality is there is not enough people through the gates or sponsorship dollars to support the costs of flying teams all around Australia etc.

In England they can run 2nd and 3rd tier levels because football is their first chosen sport plus they do not need to fly a squad of 60 plus people around the country every second week plus accommodation, meals etc. Gate takings plus sponsorship make it possible in England but here it is not even close.

That's why I know it "Ain't gonna happen"

It's nice to have champagne ideas but you cannot make it happen on lemonade money.

Edited by Aussiesrus: 4/5/2012 02:56:38 PM