By Donald Sutherland April 3, 2013    Leave a comment

EXCLUSIVE | Two-time National League champion Melbourne Knights will not attend this season’s Victorian Premier League (VPL) launch, in a protest against Football Federation Victoria’s (FFV) pre-season preparation.
In an email sent to CEO Peter Gome, which was circulated to all VPL clubs and leaked to MFootball, the Knights’ board said the lack of promotion, communication and poor use of funds were major factors behind the decision.
“The Melbourne Knights wish to express our disappointment with the manner in which Football Federation Victoria has approached all aspects of preparation for the 2013 Victorian Premier League season,” the email stated.
“While we understand that this is a transitional period, in light of the launch of the National Competition Review and development of criteria for a National Premier League, we are concerned that fundamental support and promotion is lacking this season.”
Knights representatives said they were confused as to why there was no information night for the Victorian Premier League, with clubs only discovering important information regarding official match balls and VPL playing strip patches after they initiated communication.
The club’s board also called for FFV to reform their promotion of the game, asking for the federation to use Football New South Wales’s (FNSW) online promotion as a model to follow.
“We ask why FFV media contains a high proportion of stories about FFV programs and events and wonder why the contributions of clubs are not featured as prominently. Does the FFV media department exist as a vehicle of self promotion or as a mirror to the genuine happenings of grassroots and elite clubs?
“We ask that a higher proportion of marketing and promotions is dedicated to the Victorian Premier League and ask that the FFV review the FNSW website and promotional materials produced for and about NSW Premier League clubs. We ask you to consider the obvious disparity between the priorities of the two federations.”
The email also critisised the FFV for staging the VPL launch at a corporate room within Etihad Stadium during Melbourne Victory’s Finals Series game against Perth Glory this Friday night, suggesting funds could have been put to a better use.
“We question the apparent misappropriation of funds and unwarranted expense of securing corporate facilities for a VPL season launch – one of many examples where grassroots funds are being used to provide financial support for A-League enterprises (including National Youth League teams).
“We thank you for the invitation to join you for a VPL season launch, however we have no interest in attending unless some of our concerns can be addressed.”
It is unclear at this stage whether other VPL clubs will also boycott Friday’s league launch.