T-League closer to approval

JULIUS ROSS | July 04, 2012 12.01am

FOOTBALL Federation Tasmania yesterday announced the proposed T-League has received a tick of approval from its internal board members, but Tasmania's football fraternity still await the green light for the competition.

The official line from the federation yesterday was that finalisation for the state league, based around a major sponsor, is "almost there".

But clubs were expecting a "yes or no" answer yesterday and the official announcement is still "two to three weeks" away.

While yesterday's statement was effectively what was already known, there was an air of confidence from the federation's chief executive John Boulous suggesting the competition is inching ever closer to approval.

Boulous provided the biggest hint since the T-League started its search for a major sponsor earlier this year that it would be tying the knot with a naming rights sponsor in "the not too distant future".

"We've never had a set date on announcing who the sponsor is. We've just said that by June 30 we would be in a position to announce whether it would be going ahead or not," Boulous said.

"The board have approved the T-League to commence in 2013, subject to the finalisation of a contract with a major sponsor." He said the contract "is very progressed and we're very hopeful that will continue with the same enthusiasm that has been present throughout the whole negotiations".

"Ideally we would have loved to have announced it was definitely going ahead, but I guess the strongest indication that we can give is that the board has approved the T-League to commence next year," Boulous said.

"We're very excited and very hopeful that [the contract will be completed] in the not too distant future.

"We hope to make all the relevant announcements throughout ... July."

He added: "I would think in the next two to three weeks; mid-to-late July will be the final announcement."

Boulous said that the federation had a "good support crew of sponsors" underpinning the major naming-rights sponsor to help finance "services" associated with the new league.

If the T-League's major sponsor is confirmed, eight clubs will be announced for entry into the competition on August 6.

The T-League will be Tasmanian football's elite competition and will feature a 21-round season running from March to August next year with a finals series.

Teams will compete for up to $30,000 in prizemoney.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/07/04/342861_soccer.html