Monday, 29 July 2013 2:08 PM

Following the Club’s Press Release on 4 July 2013 advising of the Club’s concerns with the proposed model to implement the National Competition Review (NCR) recommendations, the Club now announces that it has withdrawn from the FFV process to implement its proposed model.
Together with numerous other clubs which had submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI), a joint statement to the FFV has been sent earlier today by which all the signatory clubs informed the FFV and FFA of their formal withdrawal from the process.
The seventeen signatory clubs to the joint statement are supported, in their joint statement, by eight clubs which have previously publicly announced that they would not submit an EOI and criticising the FFV’s model for the NPLV. In addition, three other clubs or entities which had previously submitted an EOI have now informed the FFV directly that they have withdrawn from the application process. More clubs are expected to make a statement over the coming days announcing their withdrawal.

South Melbourne FC is concerned about a number of key failings of the FFV’s proposed model to implement key elements of the NCR, including:

- Its failure to achieve the critical aim of the NCR to rebrand the premier league in each State under the single banner (NPL).

- Its failure to improve the financial and commercial position of State leagues and clubs or intended by the NCR and instead, proposing a model which will critically damage the financial and commercial position of our State league and the clubs, including our Club, rendering the FFV model financially unviable.

- Its failure to achieve the critical NCR aim of consistency across all States with the proposed Victorian model critically weakening many clubs, including ours.

South Melbourne FC has repeatedly detailed its concerns to FFV and is very disappointed with FFV’s approach. Along with other clubs and organisations, including Parks and Leisure Australia (PLS) which is the national peak organisation representing professionals working in the sporting, recreation and park sectors, South Melbourne FC considers FFV’s so called ‘consultation process’ to have been no more than an information giving exercise. FFV has neither addressed nor incorporated the key concerns of clubs, including ours, in its proposed model.

As the introduction of the National Premier Leagues through the NCR process was an FFA initiative, South Melbourne FC now expects FFA will take an active role in ensuring that FFV properly implements its model in Victoria.
Our Club is mindful that the present FFV model does not adequately meet the legal obligations of FFA and FFV to implement the recommendations of the NCR. Whilst South Melbourne FC is mindful that legal action is appropriate only as a last resort, it wishes to assure its members and supporters that it will take the necessary steps to protect the interests of the Club and is now actively exploring its legal avenues to ensure that it is not unfairly and wrongly disadvantaged by the introduction of a flawed NPLV.

South Melbourne FC remains confident that the FFV will make the necessary changes to its model to ensure the proper implementation of the NCR recommendations resulting in a strong rebranded premier league in Victoria as part of the nationwide NPL. South Melbourne FC continues to support the principles of the NCR recommendations.
All enquiries to Tom Kalas on 0419 996 645 or tom@smfc.com.au.
Nick Galatas
Chairman
South Melbourne Football Club

- See more at: http://www.smfc.com.au/news/1349/media-release-national-premier-

Edited by chris: 29/7/2013 03:48:05 PM

Up to the FFV now - however considering their stubborn approach my bet is a court injunction with 9 days by smfc and the other clubs which will effectively freeze all NPL_V activity until resolution is met

Hahahaha.

The end is so fucking near it's not funny.

You poor brainless soul, after entire decades of legal action threats by mono-ethnic clubs like your own whenever the previous governing body ASF attempted to revamp the game, you think the new FFA constitution, under which every single fucking club in Australia operates, has left any avenues open for legal actions against its decisions of reform?

I can't believe mono-ethnic clubs are withdrawing their applications.

What a great day for the future of Australian football if that's true.

You should have read the new constitution and the new rules and regulations carefully before you put the noose around your heads you dickheads.

You know that Rolling Stones song, "It's All Over Now"?

You better believe it.

You must have a very small dick and a smaller brain
bait your sister tosser

Rofl you wish.

Don't see how this is the mono-ethnic clubs fault for FFV trying to implement the system wrong.

It goes against FFA's own recommendations and the clubs are trying to stick for it.

You see that? You're dearly hated clubs are trying to do what the FFA wants.

Yeah I'll be ready when you're head explodes.

-PB

I don't really understand why the FFV are allegedly acting outside of the FFA's own guidelines

"National Premier League" in essence should be represented by the strongest clubs outside of the HAL - these clubs through their grass roots and community links have the opportunity to utilise their existing channels to adopt what the NCR set out to achieve....

-> Player pathway
-> A smaller gap between the tier 1 and 2 levels of football in Australia with direct links to community football
-> A consistent model across all states with a view to adopting a true second tiered structure underpinning the HAL

In every other state that has been adhered to and already executed - yet the Football Federation of Victoria insists on executing an anomaly model that sits outside of the NCR guidelines and not consistent with what has been executed Australia wide - an isolated model

What FFV are trying to formulate with their model is to conveniently peel certain recommendation of the NPL NCR from the FFA and to drag and drop them into their existing zonal system - very convenient as this sits within their current strategic plan rather than building a new one which truly captures in essence what the NPL set out to achieve

Furthermore the FFV have delivered guidelines that are not feasible for established clubs and more suited to a consortium that would be indirectly fully operated and managed by the FFV

What does this mean

- no point in any Metro clubs participating at a substantial loss and risking 56-60 years of evolution in a competition with the like of Ballarat and surfcoast - no disrespect for these zones - however not a growth strategy and a huge risk element

- a club like south which is now widely recognised as the 3rd largest football broadcaster nationally - yet the NPLV guidelines would not allow smfc tv to broadcast?????

- smfc this season has over $300K in sponsorship - the FFV is yet to determine revenue streams for their NPL Version and yet wants control and ownership of clubs trademarking???

- a football club's value is assessed on 2 pivotal measures - on field performance and membership - yet the FFV is determined to have established clubs marginalised to 1 team per age group effectively marginalising a clubs membership base and scrapping small sided games and teams???

- zonal system ------ as mentioned above the legacy of the underachieving Champions League which never took off at senior level and for a reason as these zonal teams lacked existing channels to fund a senior team - it is obvious the FFV plans to have 1 representative in each zone - and all other clubs to be the sub-servants of each zone - meaning a tightly embroided club like the Melbourne Knights who opted not to participate (and for good reason) would ultimately be restricted to play senior football within its localised zone???

- Financials - costly exercise with a block on current revenue streams - yet no direction on any new revenue streams - only that these streams would be in the full control of the FFV - an organisation who's number 1 sponsor in the last 10 years has been through fining clubs rather than creating revenue channels

- weaker competition - The VPL is currently widely regarded from a talent perspective as the strongest state comp in Australia - yet the NPL_V version would make it the weakest - rather than having the best players in the state participating via the strongest clubs - you would have the best players in a zone participating via their zonal represented team - meaning players that miss out in a zone may be better than the players representing another zone......compounding this would also seriously dampen the prospects of the Vic team's performance in a national comp at the end of each season which is the only commercial reality so far on the NPL from the FFA not the FFV

the NPL_V lacks alignment with the FFA NPL model and what the other states have executed - having a competition with category b sides based on an EOI regardless on their ability to deliver is a monumental concern

Without being arrogant smfc gave the NPLV some credibility last year by publicly stating that we welcome "change"- it was a position undertaken by the club with intent of goodwill - cooperation and open communication...... however it is clear to see the FFV have taken a rigid approach primarily to protect its current underachieving summer zonal league set up

You cannot have a Premiere league without clubs with advanced infrastructure such as the Knights - Heidelberg - Green Gully - Bentleigh - Preston - South - Northcote etc etc etc

Had we adopted the NSW version we would easily achieve 2 tiers including the enabler of some of our major regional centers to participate

FFV has got this terribly wrong in Victoria - their insistence to arrogantly persist with integrating the NPL to their Zonal structure rather than to align clubs to deliver the recommendation of the NCR suggests a clear and damaging conflict of interest to the game in Victoria and also Nationally

The recomendations the FFV has put forward would make the FFV the Beneficiary of their version of the NPL_V

Clubs should be judged on their infrastructure and their ability to nurture and deliver - not FFV's formulated version which in all honesty asks powerful clubs to risk 50-60 plus years of evolution

The clubs would me more than happy to participate and share the stage with the lesser knowns - none off the clubs want to hijack the game - for the game to be healthy it requires teams to be healthy - however your model is way over formulated and the NPL-V is something that should be relatively simple and have been executed by now

Next week will bring an historic moment for football in Victoria

30 Plus of the original 44 clubs that emerged with an EOI will systematically pull out as a bulk and they will be joined by other significant clubs that did not pursue the EOI with a common voice and a common currency to ensure that the game moves in the right direction

What will remain vying for the NPL_V are a handful of smaller clubs with the majority being consortiums who will be severely lacking brand awareness, capability, true football infrastructure with community and commercial channels

The FFV - (specifically Monteleone) needs to step down - otherwise the game in Victoria will face a Nuclear winter for the next 3 years atleast and I am not sure the FFA with the pressure they are receiving from the AFC will be happy with that

More to come I am sure......

A true National Premier League model minus Victoria is incomplete

No they're not. They are trying to run their own race again in a different set of circumstances and under an entirely set of rules.

Who is going against FFA's recomendations? The FFV? Hahaha. You people will say and claim anything that suit your agenda.

Where's your proof? If you have any, hurry it up to your club because they are well and trully fucked and you know it.

I predicted SMFC will be in the lower reaches of the State Leagues before too long that even the FFA Cup won't be able to reach and it looks that I might be right. Right?

You people should never have made so much noise all these years abusing the FFA and you should never have withdrawn that application in ther NPL. It's all over. 4TH tier football next year. If you're lucky.

Looks like South Melbourne again.

i THINK YOU ARE THE ONE WITH THE aGENDA

Full of Intellectual giants this forum !

https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ffvmedia/MediaReleaseClubs290713.pdf

Check out the link nearly 30 clubs have joint with Sth in a joint statement to withdrawal from an unviable model.

Some advice boys...do your research first before expressing any points of view.

'Joined' rather than joint (I think some of you are smoking way to much anyway :)

A League addict

All I can say is this game belongs as much to the organic clubs in this country as to anyone else....bait the clubs as much as you like but the coming weeks will see the organic clubs stand up as one with a common voice and a common currency in this state which in simple terms is an absolute nightmare to you and your agenda

FFV as we know it is tick-tocking on the way out

Monteleone and his drongo board are on the way out

Who's the dead polar bear, then?

Again, the whole football community is united on this one. All the nasty ethnics who apparently hate each other so much united in a single cause. Couldn't happen, surely? Not all these terrible, self-interested, uneducated, unwashed, foreigners... Together? Agreeing?

Keep on dreaming though.

Gold Coast rep