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And Everyone Blamed Clive
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Winner of Official 442 Comment of the day Award - 10th April 2017
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aussie scott21
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In compromise solution, ISL and I-League to share space In an exception to the global norm, India will have two national leagues after it was agreed on Thursday that the I-League and Indian Super League (ISL) will be held simultaneously this season. Following a meeting with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), I-League clubs agreed to a compromise solution, thus ending the impasse that threatened to derail the domestic season. Both leagues, likely to be 10-team affairs, will begin in November. The winner of each competition will get a continental berth. While the I-League champions will get an Asian Champions League playoff slot, the ISL winners will compete in the AFC Cup playoffs. A formal announcement is likely to be made following a league committee meeting in Delhi on July 5. The breakthrough came after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) gave the green signal to a helpless AIFF to conduct the two leagues. It’s a departure from FIFA’s policy, which allows a country to have just one premier football league. A senior AIFF official said the continental body took note of the ‘unique’ mess Indian football found itself in and realised that forcing a decision would have worsened the problem. “The AFC Secretariat is prepared to accept the concurrent running of the ISL and I-League as a temporary short term ‘bridging’ solution. The special dispensation has been reviewed and agreed by FIFA,” the AIFF said in a statement. The deal means the I-League will no longer enjoy the status of being the country’s premier championship. Instead, it will now have to fight a weekly battle with the ISL. I-League clubs fear that they will play second fiddle to the ISL, whose owners have deeper pockets and adopt aggressive marketing policies. To ensure they aren’t run over by the ISL, the I-League clubs laid out certain conditions, which include increase in the number of foreign players, hike in travel subsidies, budget for promotion, and telecast of the league on the same network as the ISL. “They have demanded that all matches should be held on weekends. So if on one weekend, I-League matches are held on Saturday and ISL on Sunday, it should be the other way round the following week,” an AIFF official said. To match the ISL in terms of foreign players, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have demanded that the number of international recruits in an I-League squad be doubled to eight and five foreigners be allowed on the pitch at a time. At present, I-League follow the 3+1 rule (three foreigners plus one Asian). The proposal has been opposed by several clubs, including reigning champions Aizawl FC, who have argued that more foreigners will reduce opportunities for Indian players. The league committee will take a final call on team composition. The clubs have also demanded an increased allowance. The AIFF currently provides a travel subsidy of Rs 45 lakh per club for the entire season. That, it has been proposed, should be increased to Rs 70 lakh per club. Additionally, a budget of Rs 2 crore will be set aside for the branding of the I-League. That amount is likely to come from the Rs 3 crore the AIFF will receive from a new team that will be introduced next season. As per their rules, any new team seeking direct entry into the I-League has to pay a franchise fee of Rs 3 crore. Bids for new teams will be invited soon, a federation official said. The breakthrough came after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) gave the green signal to a helpless AIFF to conduct the two leagues. It’s a departure from FIFA’s policy, which allows a country to have just one premier football league. http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/isl-i-league-merge-aiff-in-compromise-solution-isl-and-i-league-to-share-space-4728407/
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pippinu
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Hope yet for when the ten clubs run their own league in competition with the FFA's league.
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aussie scott21
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Death of Asean Super League. A win for pro rel. Death of the ASEAN Super League will benefit Asian footballNews that the proposed ASEAN Super League had finally been aborted almost a decade since the idea was first floated provoked few laments. It should provide solid impetus for greater work in strengthening the bond of existing clubs throughout Southeast Asia. Right from the start there was always a sense that the ASL concept was being driven for essentially commercial ideals rather than footballing ones. After delay upon delay, it was welcome news when the AFC announced that the project had finally been shelved. Despite the deep involvement of commercial partners that have extensive ties with the AFC, it was hard to see how the continental body would have approved the idea given the direct clashes with both the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup – even more so after the third tier President’s Cup was shelved two years ago. 
It also become readily apparent over the last couple of years that there was hardly any serious interest in the concept from most nations across the region – many of whom, sensibly, said the priority was to continue building and developing their own domestic competitions. In turn, those who taste success at home have the chance to play in either of the established continental competitions. That’s the way it should be, even with the AFC doing its best make the complicated rules of the AFC Cup akin to solving a Rubik’s Cube. Is there the need for another club tournament to help develop the sport in Southeast Asia? As I see it, under the ASL proposal, absolutely not. The idea was only ever aimed at creating an elite level event that would have had enough star power to sell to broadcasters. But even if the fanciful concept could have been pulled off, what would that have done to the domestic tournaments in each of the competing nations? It would have severely hampered them, all for the benefit of a dozen or so players from each nation. The idea, right from the start, was conceived poorly, executed badly and driven by beliefs that were to benefit private coffers rather than grow the game – thank goodness this drawn-out saga is finally over. The key now is to grow the game in each nation and ensure greater stability at national league level than we have seen in recent years. 
Both the Philippines and Indonesia have brand new leagues that need nurturing, Laos is in a state of utter despair and things aren’t much better in the amateur leagues of Brunei and Timor. Persistent questions around doctored results linger in other leagues to the north and even in the more established competitions, the problems are widespread. Singapore could be well advised to cut ties with the string of foreign clubs that have been gobbling up titles with entirely foreign-based playing squads and do away with the failed Young Lions experiment whilst they’re at it. Malaysia is making a solid push towards greater professionalism with the new Club Licensing system, but there is still a long way to go and Thailand has recent history of meddling with promotion and relegation criteria as well as allowing cross ownership of clubs. There is, then, plenty to be done right across the region and if the AFF and their ‘commercial partners’ are genuinely focused on developing the game rather than lining their own pockets, then there’s plenty of places right across Southeast Asia that would welcome their investment.
Death of the ASEAN Super League will benefit Asian football - FOX SPORTS
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TheSelectFew
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We predicted this years ago. Fuck ASL, fuck Wellington Pheonix. Massive win for ASEAN football.
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aussie scott21
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Geelong’s house in order, now its down to results in NPL promotion plan GEELONG makes no apologies for its ambition. The Stead Park-based side is pushing for promotion into the NPL and remains in contention to achieve that this season. But this isn’t a plan that has come about over night, there’s been years of careful planning involved. It all culminates with one goal — NPL football. “We sat down as a committee and put together a five year road map,” vice president Steve Bogdanovski said. “Part of that was new facilities, a third ground, additional lighting. But also to get to the point where we can take the club into the future. “Where we want to be is playing at the highest level. “We don’t want to forget where we came from, but we want to play a the best level we possibly can.” Geelong was one of a number of applications when the National Premier League when the competition was announced back in 2014. And while Geelong missed out then, they knew promotion/relegation would start at the end of 2017 and have slowly built to that. It involved a $1.6m upgrade to their club rooms which includes function centre, media room and men’s and women’s changerooms. They built a squad in 2016 that was good enough to earn promotion into State League 1 for this season and then they topped it up with international flair to go for the title. “We set a target last year to win the league ... we ticked that box. This year we set the same goal, we recruited accordingly to get promoted,” he said. “We also recruited to set a base set of players so that if we do get promoted to the NPL that we can continue on with just a few top ups and a few changes. We didn’t want to rebuild from scratch again.” North Geelong is the region’s only club in the men’s NPL competition. Many question whether there is a need for a second representative club given the population, but for Bogdanovski it’s a no-brainer. “We can live happily side-by-side,” Bogdanovksi said. “Geelong being the highest regional growth area, there is a need for more kids to play at that higher level. “There isn’t any issue with a bit of friendly competition and options for the Geelong soccer community. We can easily work together.” Geelong knows its ambition may have put some noses out of joint in the local soccer community. “It’s difficult to make everyone happy. I think certain clubs out there probably look at what we are doing, what we are spending and are a bit envious,” Bogdanovski said. “It’s always hard to attract sponsors and get significant dollars invested in a club. “Within the same breath, we have been a long standing club in the community.” Bogdanovski said the club prides itself on its junior development. From under-7s juniors are given the same kit, training gear and tracksuit as the senior team. They may only be kids but they are treated the same way. Geelong is also keen to keep a community aspect to the club running, allowing young players to choose from NPL or local systems. “The NPL balance with our community side guarantees that we can cater for kids at the highest level ... and also those that want to just enjoy it,” Bogdanovski said. “We are an open and inclusive club and welcome people from every where. We want to grow with the region, that’s our intent.” Bogdanovski said the club submitted an NPL expression of interest before last month’s deadline and had “pretty much ticked every box” set out by the governing body. The hardest part now is to get promoted. Just the top teams from the two State League 1 divisions earn promotion into the NPL. Geelong currently sits 11 points behind league leader Altona Magic with nine rounds remaining. It needs to be perfect from here in, but it has the talent to do so. “We are a little bit behind Altona Magic, but it is a long season and anything can happen,” Bogdanovski said. Altona Magic has made it clear it is also hunting promotion. Geelong and the Magic are two of a handful of clubs that have the ambition to go to the top. It makes for some very competitive fixtures, especially towards the end of the season. So what would NPL mean to Geelong? “For the club itself (NPL) would be the reward of a minimum three to five years of planning, of setting a goal and achieving it. It ticks a box that say we will be around for a long, long time,” Bogdanovski said. http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/local-sport/geelongs-house-in-order-now-its-down-to-results-in-npl-promotion-plan/news-story/e47a131655cdfb8610cddcd233d0bd7f
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aussie scott21
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Super League could expand to 13 or 14 teams under new proposals A proposal which involves increasing the number of teams in Super League to 13, or even 14, is being considered by the Rugby Football League as discussions begin on the format of the sport’s league structure for 2018 and beyond. High-ranking officials from both the RFL and Super League met at Haydock Park last week to discuss the future of the Super 8s structure. While no decision was reached, a proposal put forward by one club owner is understood to have attracted particular interest. It includes bringing at least one extra side into the competition, with the leading contender for the extra slot likely to be Hull Kingston Rovers if they fail to gain promotion from the Championship this season. Hull KR were relegated from Super League last October in the Million Pound Game defeat against Salford. Around three-quarters of clubs were understood to have expressed interest in the proposal which will now be assessed for financial viability before the clubs meet again next month to discuss it further. While clubs were interested in the idea, they are keen to seek assurances that should any extra teams come into the competition, existing funding levels would not be cut as a result of an increased Super League. The proposal also includes plans to potentially rise the number of teams in Super League even higher, with a 14th team coming in – although that would likely not occur until 2019 at the earliest if the plans are given the green light by both the RFL and the clubs. Any increase of the competition’s size would inevitably involve changes to the regular season format, and questions will arise on how the introduction of an extra side would affect Magic Weekend, where an entire round of fixtures is played at one venue across a single weekend. The concept is almost certain to remain in the calendar in 2018, and will likely remain as a bonus round. Yet with a 13-team competition that would create a disparity in points, with one team unable to play the same amount of fixtures as everyone else. An official decision on changes to the structure are not expected to be revealed until the end of the season, but other tweaks to the current format discussed last week include awarding the League Leaders’ Shield before the start of the Super 8s, as well as a potential earlier kick-off time for the Thursday evening time slot. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/jun/19/super-league-could-expand-13-14-teams-proposals-rugby-leagueFmd expansion in a pro rel system.
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aussie scott21
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In the frenzy of the multi-million dollar English Premier League transfer season a six-year-old boy has reminded the world why sport is about more than just money. From the outside, the story of Bradley Lowery is tragic. Diagnosed with a rare cancer, neuroblastoma, as an 18 month-old baby, he finally succumbed to the disease last week at the tender of age of six. His death came despite the unfaltering efforts of his family in pursuing potential treatments. Yet through the tragedy, Bradley inspired and moved people around the world with his love of the failing Premier League club, Sunderland, and the story of his friendship with team's striker, Jermain Defoe. It is the beautiful and unlikely friendship between the two which has lifted this story, we learned that sometimes in life age is irrelevant and a connection with another person can be life changing. Bradley described the footballer as his "best mate" and Defoe said he took inspiration from the young child "every time he went on the pitch". The world saw Defoe break down at a press conference days before Bradley's passing and, since the boy's death, he has chosen to share his tribute with a montage of his favourite pictures on Twitter: Football around the world, and the Premier League in particular, has become a billion-dollar business that attracts all the usual muck where big cash is found. Match fixing, gambling players, World Cup bungs and sex assaults have all grabbed headlines. But, in the midst of it all, Bradley's passion for the beautiful game shines a light on the positive power football and indeed sport can have. Football is deeply personal. Your love for your team is unlike any other love in life. It can be complicated and tortuous leaving you feeling angry and bewildered one week and delirious the next. Built into that relationship is endless hope. This week your team might have had a shocker but next week maybe it could be different -- there is always a chance. Unlike many other professional leagues the English football's system of promotion and relegation brings a new level of devastation and elation to the competition and along with it an anticipation for the next season. Has your team just been relegated? That's okay, it is a time to refocus, take stock with one season in the lower division and then we will be back. You'll see. Hope and anticipation drive us back week after week, season after season.
There is also the personal connection with others. There are few moments in life when humans publicly express a shared emotion as intense as 15,000 supporters gasping at a foul or groaning as the ball skims over the bar. While watching a game our brains park everything else and we become truly present in the moment, whether we are at a match or sitting in our home. It is an unique experience in this age of always being on, always multi-tasking, always sharing a representation of our experience. Increasingly, we spend less time on experiencing the right here and right now. But with football there is no point leaning back and reflecting on a poorly-executed pass, when someone has just gone down at the edge of the box and you are holding your breath to see if it is a penalty. Reflection and blame are for later, after the match. Right now there is a bloke with a whistle about to make the most important decision in the world. Forget relationship dramas, that credit card debt that has blown out, the latest breaking news... Instead, just for a moment, watch these athletes go head-to-head physically and mentally, battling to see who can dominate. Who will be humiliated, outrun, outplayed or outmaneuvered? All it takes is one run against play and your team is back in the game. MORE ON THE BLOG: AFL Players Are Richer Than Ever But Fans Get A Poor Deal
Tied up in all our emotions is our longing for our sportsmen and women to be role models or heroes and we can feel hurt when they fail and reveal their frailties. They are seen ideals that should aspire others to emulate them not just on the pitch but in life. It's as though their talents on the field and the privilege and riches it brings should somehow be repaid to the society that adores them. We would be far better served hoping that some sports stars would be generous with the light that their career brings. The brightness of their skills and talents have the power to banish darkness from our lives even if it is briefly. And sometimes they can take the time to direct that light onto the true heroics of a small child who has battled a deadly disease and shown us all what it means to truly endure. Defoe's friendship with Bradley led some to say the footballer deserves public recognition. But Defoe seems to have already gained more than he thought possible starting from the moment the pair met. Defoe had prepared himself to see a seriously-ill child who was joining him on the pitch as the club mascot last September, but was stunned to be greeted by a boy brimming with enthusiasm, vitality, and joy. The pair spent regular time together building a lasting bond. As Sunderland dropped down on the Championship, Defoe signed with AFC Bournemouth, prolonging his stay in the Premier League. He is in the later stages of his career and, like so many professional players before him, Defoe now has to make sense of life off the pitch. Though, he seems like a man who may have already recognised the transitory nature of fame and success. He also knows that it is football that brought this once in a lifetime connection. It was Bradley's love of his local club that became a focal point and built up his extended family around the world -- who all hoped for a miracle and now mourn with his parents Gemma and Carl. The game binds us, lifts us, surprises, devastates us and we come back for more. Thank you, Bradley, for reminding us about the true value of the beautiful game.
This Friendship Between A Six-Year-Old With Cancer And A Soccer Superstar Was Sport At Its Best
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aussie scott21
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MLS rejected $4 billion media rights deal requiring promotion/relegation From Hector Villalba's game winner to Kyle Beckerman's long-distance strike, relive the goal fest that was Week 20. Major League Soccer rejected a $4 billion global media rights deal from international media company MP & Silva, as reported by the Sports Business Journal. The offer, which would have quadrupled the annual rate of MLS' current deal, came with the significant contingency that MLS would have to institute a system of promotion and relegation. The proposed deal would have run for 10 years starting in 2023, after the current deal with ESPN, Fox and Univision expires. Those broadcasters have "exclusive negotiating windows and renewal rights," MLS said in a statement Monday, and thus the league would be unable to consider Silva's offer, no matter the terms. "As was stated to [MP & Silva Group's founding partner Riccardo] Silva both in person and in a subsequent letter, Major League Soccer is prohibited contractually from engaging in discussions about our media rights with other distributors," said Dan Courtemanche, MLS executive vice president of communications. "We are not in a position, nor are we interested, in engaging with Mr. Silva on his proposal." Silva, as the co-owner of Miami FC of the second-tier NASL, has a vested interest in seeing promotion and relegation added to the United States, given that MLS is taking steps toward officially awarding a new team in Miami to a group led by David Beckham. Without promotion and relegation, Silva's Miami FC has no route to join MLS in the top flight. An attempt to reach Silva through Miami FC was unsuccessful. According to the SBJ, Silva made a presentation to MLS executives and owners on June 26. At that meeting, Silva offered to pay $4 billion for MLS' worldwide media rights, including the U.S. and Canada, at which point MP & Silva would sell on those rights around the world. Courtemanche also rejected the concept of a third-party intermediary in media deals. "It is also important to note that since its inception, MLS, like the other North American leagues, has dealt directly with its domestic broadcast partners, rather than through agents and brokers," the statement continued. "This ensures that the league and its partners can structure an agreement that addresses all elements, such as scheduling, marketing and digital distribution, that are required for a successful partnership." Given that the U.S. Soccer Federation has sanctioned two leagues -- the NASL and the USL -- with Division II status, it's unclear exactly how a system of promotion and relegation would work, but generally speaking, if the proposal were accepted, after every season, the worst teams in MLS would be relegated to either the NASL or the USL, while the best teams from those leagues would move up to MLS. The insistence on instituting a system of promotion and relegation is also a nonstarter with MLS. Commissioner Don Garber has long stated that such a system would not be considered. MLS is currently engaged in its latest round of expansion and is asking for expansion fees of $150 million. It's almost certain that either demand would dry up or the fee would be significantly reduced if an expansion candidate were told that it could be relegated to a lower league, be it the NASL or the USL. Beyond Beckham's Miami team, MLS' current expansion plans call for two expansion teams to be awarded this year, with two more to follow, bringing the league to an eventual 28 teams, which would be the largest top division in the world. Beckham exercised his MLS option for an expansion team in 2014, more than a year before Silva founded Miami FC, and the former star player is finally making progress on building a stadium after years of delays. Miami FC plays at Florida International's football stadium, which in April was renamed after Silva. Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @JeffreyCarlisle. http://www.espnfc.com.au/major-league-soccer/story/3164144/mls-rejected-$4-billion-media-rights-deal-that-hinged-on-promotion-and-relegation
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TheSelectFew
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A lot of unhappy MLS fans hearing this news. It's clear there are a lot of self interest groups and agendas here.
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aussie scott21
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India's franchise-based league gets AFC nod Promoted by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries and Rupert Murdoch's Star India TV, the ISL has grown in popularity and gained ground on I-League, the national league, since its 2014 launch. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been toying with the idea of merging the private competition with the national league before deciding to let both tournaments continue for the time being. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said as a short-term "bridging solution", its competitions committee has given "special dispensation" for the ISL winners. "AIFF's recommendation to the AFC was that the ISL will replace the Federation Cup, whose winner is currently allocated an AFC Cup preliminary stage place," the continental governing body said in a statement. "Therefore, the Committee approved that the I-League champions will play in the AFC Champions League Play-off round and the ISL Champions will play in the AFC Cup preliminary stage... from 2018." The AFC confirmed that the ISL will be played simultaneously with the I-League for six or seven months in the next two seasons. The ISL has been expanded to 10 teams from the next season from the current eight, the organisers announced last month. (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Sudipto Ganguly) http://au.eurosport.com/football/india-s-franchise-based-league-gets-afc-nod_sto6267032/story.shtml2 leagues running at the same time and both enter Asia.
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aussie scott21
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Why MLS’ $4 billion headline is about forcing uncomfortable conversations If it’s mid-summer, it must be silly season. And sure enough, right in between European teams ambling around mass-audience training sessions and speculation on which seventh-choice player did enough in the Gold Cup, Riccardo Silva baited headlines with a reported $4 billion bid for 10 years of MLS' global media rights. The “offer” was quickly and publicly given the “that’s not how this works” treatment by the league, which pointed out that the current rights holders, ESPNFC, Fox and Univision, are in the early stages of a deal that runs through 2022 and includes an exclusive renegotiating window. Even if the league were interested, there’s no procedural mechanism to allow for conversations, with six years left on the current agreement. That assumes this is a good-faith offer in the first place. The timing, outlandish scale and key contingencies of the offer seem more a shot across the bow than genuine desire to work together. The key contingency, of course, would be adopting a promotion and relegation model. Silva’s MP & Silva media group would then sell the rights to MLS internationally, and not coincidentally, Silva’s NASL team, Miami FC, would have a shot of playing in the big show. The calculus involved in such an offer seems like cynical grandstanding, at best. Obviously, the story has broken in part because Sports Business Daily’s reporting on Silva’s abortive attempts to move the pro-rel discussion forward during a meeting with MLS in late June. But the news was always likely to get out, and perhaps, from Silva’s perspective, it was always likely to come out at a time to cause maximum discomfort for the league. Whether inadvertently or not, the Silva offer may have a similar refracting effect on the future conversations about the media landscape of the league. It plays into one of the perennial anxieties around MLS — its ability to move the ratings needle — and does so at a key time in the current rights deal. Silva, right, owns Miami FC I interviewed ESPN boss John Skipper in New York at the announcement of the current deal and asked if he felt it represented value for money. His smiling reply was, “Generally, you hope that a good deal pays for itself towards the end of its lifetime, rather than the beginning,” which was as diplomatic as possible, given the slow growth of MLS viewing figures. Few present had any doubt the combined U.S. national team media rights had driven the deal. While MLS viewing figures get better year over year, Skipper and his peers at Fox and Univision will not be high-fiving at how their bonus-prize is performing come this stage of the 2023 cycle. For a hotter property, the MP & Silva bid might accelerate a renegotiation strategy, but as it is, ESPN & Co. are being invited to contemplate the value of their current deal before it’s had a chance to bear fruit. MLS commissioner Don Garber hasn’t talked much recently, as he used to, of “the ghost of NASL” and its feckless haunting of MLS corridors, but the Silva offer raises the specter of an MLS ghost of Christmas future, one that only succeeded in consolidating a minority sport instead of driving it to the limitless expansion on offer from an ambitious NASL owner. At least, that’s what we’re invited to think when we hear of eye-watering numbers, or of Silva’s utopian vision, where, as he put it in a letter to Garber, “MLS would be the major beneficiaries of an open, meritocratic system because it would stimulate greater fan interest, excitement, quality and engagement in the domestic game.” The dissonance between the proposed scale and the current reality is key here. Glancing from the number $4 billion to the current realities of the NASL puts me in mind of looking at the Photoshop renderings of the New York Cosmos proposed stadium at Belmont while sitting in the cramped press box at Hofstra Stadium. It’s neither an insult to the Cosmos nor a failure of imagination to find it impossible to visualize a path between the suburban, college-astroturfed reality and the gleaming pixelated spaceship being proposed. And likewise, MP & Silva are not a conglomerate arriving from nowhere, or from a tier of American sports business practices MLS could only dream of. They are a credible player, for sure, with existing soccer rights, as well as tennis and motor sports. Among other deals, they are halfway through a five-year deal brokering NFL media rights in Europe. But they’re not a proven game-changer, as yet; in fact, MLS replaced MP & Silva as international rights distributors with IMG in October 2014, soon followed by significant deals with the likes of Sky (UK), Eurosport, Globosport (Brazil) and Abu Dhabi Sports Channel (Middle East and North Africa). The scale of the IMG deals was nothing like the numbers MP & Silva have been throwing about, but they’ve increased the footprint and visibility of MLS on a scale that appears credible and sustainable. The problem is, you can apply all the sense in the world to looking at this offer and still be swept away by the combined force of the conveniently unprovable financial scale with the political rallying cry that promotion and relegation has become. It’s in the sweet spot of silly season. But it doesn’t mean it won’t have serious consequences. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/riccardo-silva-mls-4-billion-tv-rights-about-forcing-uncomfortable-conversations
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aussie scott21
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David Wagner: Huddersfield are now a big club after Premier League promotion... in Germany The Terriers boss has seen interest in the Yorkshire outfit spiral in his homeland ahead of next month’s big kick-off. And Wagner believes only the top flight’s big six clubs have a higher profile following Town’s fairytale journey to join England’s elite. He said: “I think when I came here, Huddersfield was not a name because even I didn’t know something about them when I first got in contact about coming to the club. “But now, especially in Germany to be fair, Huddersfield Town is now a name in football. “Maybe after the top six in English football, it is one of the biggest and most-known names and football clubs in Germany now “Since our promotion, there has been a lot of interest in us from many football people in Germany who have sent us regards and congratulations for what we have done.” “But now, especially in Germany to be fair, Huddersfield Town is now a name in football” Huddersfield boss David Wagner Wagner wants to keep that interest alive by guiding Town to survival in their first season back in the top flight for 45 years. And he believes beating instant relegation can be done - because he has already seen that achieved by one of his former sides Mainz. He said: “In my country, there have been examples like Huddersfield last season. One was Mainz, when they were promoted the first time and got established in the Bundesliga. “Another was Paderborn, and Freiburg were also a small club who became established. So there are several examples comparable with a club like ours in Germany.” http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/632865/David-Wagner-Huddersfield-News-Germany-Premier-League-Yorkshire
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aussie scott21
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By Jordan Kobritz Originally Published: August 1, 2017 10:45 p.m.Four billion dollars. That’s a significant sum in virtually any context, unless we’re talking about the federal budget. And yet Major League Soccer (MLS) said “no thanks” to an offer that would have netted the league that amount over a 10-year period. Riccardo Silva, founder of MP & Silva, an international sports media company, made the proposal in exchange for MLS’s worldwide media rights. But the offer came with a condition. MLS would have been required to adopt the promotion and relegation system that is utilized in European sports leagues. Simply stated, pro/rel is a process where teams “transfer” between two leagues or divisions based on their performance during the previous season. The best teams in the lower league/division are “promoted” to the higher level for the next season, and the worst teams in the higher league/division are “relegated” to the lower level for the following year. The system has obvious benefits to fans and players. Under the pro/rel format, teams tend to go all out to win. If such a system existed in baseball, imagine the two teams with the worst records in MLB one year relegated to Triple A the next season. The financial consequences for each team would be staggering. MLB teams receive approximately a quarter-of-a billion dollars a year from the League’s Central Fund. Triple A teams don’t share in the Central Fund. If the Houston Astros had faced relegation to Triple A, would they have been content to finish with the worst record in baseball for three straight years, 2012-2014? That tactic netted them a bevy of high picks in the annual draft, which led to the best record in the American League this year. And Triple A teams would have as much incentive to finish first as MLB teams would have to avoid finishing last. However, adoption of a pro/rel system is only one change that would be required in baseball. Minor League teams would have to secure their own players, rather than depend on their MLB affiliates for talent. Players would also benefit from a pro/rel system in the form of higher salaries. MLS players currently average around $300,000 while their English Premier League counterparts average ten times that amount, a function of teams’ desire to win. Silva had an ulterior motive in making his offer. He happens to be a co-owner of Miami FC, a North American Soccer League club. The NASL is one of two leagues below the level of MLS, which means under a pro/rel system Silva’s team would be eligible for promotion to the upper league. Not so coincidentally, MLS has granted a Miami expansion franchise to a group led by former MLS star David Beckham. The group has spent years trying to put together a stadium deal and if they are successful, as expected, Silva’s team could be in jeopardy. The benefits of Silva’s offer to MLS are less certain. The League would more than quadruple its media rights until the current contracts with its media partners expire after the 2022 season. But would expansion suitors, knowing not all teams will be guaranteed perpetual membership in the League, be willing to fork over the current minimum expansion fee of $150 million? Expansion fees currently sustain the League financially. MLS has never operated in the black, despite all the fancy new stadiums and high attendance figures. There are plans for at least four more expansion franchises, but the operating model needs to change before the League runs out of viable expansion cities. As much fun as it is to contemplate a pro/rel system in the United States, it’s nothing more than a pipe dream. It would require teams to approve a system that would guarantee financial ruin for some of their brethren each year. While Silva’s financial offer must be tempting to MLS owners, the requirement of a pro/rel system make it a non-starter. Still, the thought of teams – and players – competing for their financial lives is every fan’s fantasy.
Column: Relegation in US sports leagues a tough sell | The Daily Courier | Prescott, AZ
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David Davutovic, Herald Sun HARRY Kewell is facing a crunch game just three games into his managerial career, gaining an early insight into the pressures of the cut-throat nature of English football. Crawley Town has suffered three straight losses, which included a tough League Cup visit to Harry Redknapp’s cashed up Championship side Birmingham City. Though Kewell’s mandate was to stabilise a team that finished just five points above relegation to the non-leagues and is operating on one of the league’s lowest budgets, pressure is already mounting on the rookie coach. With the threat of relegation amplifying the pressure on clubs and managers, it’s the kind of pressure that would be unthinkable just two rounds into an A-League season.  Harry Kewell gives instructions to Crawley Town player Dean Cox.It may be the dawn of a 46-game League Two season but Crawley owner Ziya Eren raised the stakes for Saturday’s clash at home to Cambridge United by issuing a statement early this week pleading with fans to get behind the team. “We have not started the season well but it is crucial that we do not lose our positivity and direction,” Eren said. “The squad has been through transition last year and will be finetuned every year, together with Harry we have worked to build a better team than last season. “Despite the results, the team has shown positive signs. I ask for unity, noise and passion for our game on Saturday against Cambridge United. “This year we have increased budgets. The club is growing to build its foundation to rise through the leagues. A defeatist mentality are not characteristics of this club. We have to recall from where we started our journey. “Since the takeover, we have rebuilt the infrastructure and increased the contracted playing staff. The value of the playing staff is considerably increasing each year. This is an indication of the growing value of the team.” Crawley has showed promising signs, including the emergence of Dutch winger Enzio Boldewijn, 24, and Panutche Camara, a 20-year-old non-League off-season signing who netted an impressive, albeit consolation goal in the 5-1 loss to Birmingham. Kewell’s focus will be on defensive shape and solidity, having conceded nine goals in three games.
Harry Kewell’s horror start with Crawley Town | Herald Sun
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The MLS: A Royal Nonesuch for soccerBy Roy Bragg August 20, 2017 Updated: August 20, 2017 7:59pm Photo: Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News
Amanda Rodriguez plays a drum as other Mission City Firm members cheer before the San Antonio FC soccer match on April 1, 2017 at Toyota Field. In “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” two con men charge admission for a few minutes of on-stage idiocy titled “The Royal Nonesuch.” It was so bad, the opening night crowd wanted to bum rush the stage and whomp the tar out of the cast. Just then, a guy in the front row stood up. “But we don’t want to be the laughingstock of this whole town, I reckon, and never hear the last of this thing as long as we live,” the guy says. “No. What we want is to go out of here quiet, and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town! Then we’ll all be in the same boat. Ain’t that sensible?” Major League Soccer is a lot like The Royal Nonesuch. You may hate soccer, but this topic is important. If the city lands one of Major League Soccer’s four expansion teams, it could cost $240 million and taxpayers will be on the hook for about a third of that. And there’s no promise the league will succeed. That wouldn’t be a reflection on San Antonio, which has proven itself to be a great soccer city, but rather on the voodoo economics of MLS. Writing in “Soccernomics,” co-author Stefan Szymanski took issue with a Forbes magazine financial assessment that touted the increased value of the league’s 20 teams last year. “Once again, I’m puzzled,” wrote Szymanski, an economist. His conclusion? “(The franchises) are valuable,” Szymanski writes, “because people think they’re valuable.” If you invested heavily in Hummel figurines or pogs or Thomas Kinkade paintings, you know what Szymanski means. Twelve of MLS’s 20 franchises last season recorded lower attendance than the previous campaign. Overall attendance is slightly up, but that’s skewed by the interest in expansion teams Atlanta and Minnesota. Put those crowds to the side and MLS aggregate attendance is flat. Modern sports leagues need large TV contracts to succeed. But MLS doesn’t have the viewership to land one. MLS TV audiences would have to grow 12 percent each year until 2024, Szymanski writes, just to reach the National Hockey League’s dwindling ratings of today. And there’s a chance there won’t be anymore multibillion-dollar deals for MLS, thanks to the trend of cord-cutting. Ad-based networks won’t have the audience or advertising revenue to pony up big money. Subscription-based services such as HBO, Amazon and Netflix can play tougher in negotiations. Another threat on the horizon is a complaint, filed in an international business tribunal by two American minor league clubs. It would force U.S. Soccer, the nation’s soccer federation, to implement a promotion-relegation system like the rest of the world. Under that system, winners at the lower levels would move up to tougher leagues. Underperforming teams would drop to lower tiers. It’s a meritocracy punishing losers and encouraging aggressive clubs to spend to win. Like other American sports leagues, however, MLS is built to reward losers and create league-wide parity. Most global soccer experts say U.S. soccer lags behind the rest of the world. Promotion-relegation could turn that around. It might be possible, however, for the U.S. to have it all — a preening MLS, promotion-relegation and a formidable international soccer presence. Leave MLS be. The business plan has been called a Ponzi scheme. Its teams are considered a joke on the international stage. But if MLS makes rich guys feel good and lets certain types of fans feel special, leave it be. The lower-level pro leagues, such as the United Soccer League, North American Soccer League and the soon-to-launch USL D3 can work with the semi-pro National Premier Soccer League and USL Premier Development League to create a workable promotion-relegation system. That isn’t the intent behind creation of USL D3, said Steve Short, the new league’s vice president. But it could be, said Dennis Crowley, whose Kingston Stockade of the NPSL is one of the teams behind the complaint for promotion-relegation. “If you want to change soccer in the U.S.,” he said, “go to the lowest level clubs. I want to be able to tell the narrative that that we went from the fourth division to the third division. And some day, we move up to second division.” And while Short wouldn’t talk about promotion-relegation, he basically described a culture that’s suspiciously like soccer fandom in other countries: a fanatical, tribalistic following, similar to a college football fan base, that becomes a community institution. Teams such as Crowley’s (and the USL’s San Antonio FC, for that matter) already have built a legitimate, organically grown, community-specific fan base that most closely resembles the rest of the world. These teams in these towns, pitted against each other in a national promotion-relegation pyramid, will be the future of American soccer success. San Antonio should be a part of that. rbragg@express-news.net Twitter: @roybragg
The MLS: A Royal Nonesuch for soccer - San Antonio Express-News
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His conclusion? “(The franchises) are valuable,” Szymanski writes, “because people think they’re valuable.”
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 Hunters success kick starts rugby league frenzy in PNG- How PNG and Fiji could win way into NRL
- Mead keen on PNG return
- PNG Orchids squad named
- Aitken blow for Bravehearts
Hunters success kick starts rugby league frenzy in PNGThe PNG Hunters created history by winning the Queensland Cup minor premiership last weekend and if the Kumuls can build on their success at the Rugby League World Cup it will inevitably revive calls for the nation to have its own NRL team.With Papua New Guinea hosting their three World Cup pool matches against USA, Ireland and Wales, the country is set to be gripped by rugby league fever for at least three weeks as the Kumuls have played just Test on home soil - against Tonga in 2014 - in eight years.However, the festivities have started early after the Hunters claimed their first silverware by beating Wynnum Manly 28-22 before a crowd of more than 12,000 at Oil Search National Football Stadium on Sunday to secure the Queensland Cup minor premiership with a game in hand.The significance of the achievement for the only country in the world with rugby league as the national sport was demonstrated by PNG Prime-Minister Peter O’Neill, who attended with other government ministers, presenting the minor premiership trophy and medals to the Hunters players.The Hunters now expect to host a home finals match and if they can win the Queensland Cup premiership to secure a place in the National State Championship play-off against the NSW Cup winners on NRL grand final day, the appetite for more top-level games will grow.The Australian Prime Ministers XIII will meet the Kumuls in a double-header with the Jillarroos and PNG’s newly named women’s team, the Orchids, in Port Moresby on September 23, with the three World Cup matches to be played on October 28, November 5 and November 12.A push for an NRL team based in PNG led to the Hunters joining the Queensland Cup in 2014, while more recently the talk has been about hosting NRL games – or even a State of Origin match – at the 25,000 seat Oil Search National Football Stadium.
How PNG and Fiji could win way into NRLWhile there is no shortage of new areas wanting to join the NRL and most people consider there to be too many teams in Sydney expansion of the competition is seemingly off the agenda – at least until 2023 when the current television deal expires.But what if the NRL adopted the approach of England’s Rugby Football League and introduced a mechanism for promotion and relegation, such as the Qualifiers, in which the bottom four Super League teams and top four Championship teams play off for places in the following season’s competitions.Under that model, the bottom four NRL clubs – currently NZ Warriors, Gold Coast Titans, Wests Tigers and Newcastle Knights - would be vying for their places in next year’s competition against the likes of the PNG Hunters and NSW Cup minor premiers Wyong, who are based on the Central Coast.With Fiji and Perth wanting to enter teams in the NSW Cup it could be a way to enable teams from expansion areas to win their way into the NRL, while there would be the real possibility of a second Brisbane team given the likes of Easts, Redcliffe and Ipswich play in the Queensland Cup.The alternative is for clubs like North Sydney Bears to gain an NRL licence by buying the Titans or Warriors, who are both for sale.If the RFL model is too complex, the NRL could go straight to the Million Pound Game - played between the teams finishing fourth and fifth in the Qualifiers for the final Super League place – and pit the winner of the National State Championship against the team finishing with the wooden spoon.
HUNTERS SUCCESS KICK STARTS RUGBY LEAGUE FRENZY IN PNG | Papua New Guinea TodayWould like to see Hunters join NRL regardless...... and especially before Perth.
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aufc_ole
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Realistically what are the odds of PR in the States?
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+xRealistically what are the odds of PR in the States? 
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aussie scott21
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The will resist to open it.
However they are quite advanced in numbers. They already have the league split in 2. So I guess realistically they could add a few more teams then have a closed 2 division league up and down, instead of east and west.
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Major League Soccer: In Defiance of FIFA
Blog Sports ShortsUSA August 22 2017 Earlier this month, two American soccer teams, Miami FC of the North American Soccer League (NASL) and Kingston Stockade FC of the National Premier Soccer League, North Atlantic Conference, brought a claim in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against The United States Soccer Federation (USSF), The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and FIFA for allowing MLS to operate a closed league system thereby preventing other teams from being promoted into it based on sporting merit. Miami FC CEO Sean Flynn publicly commented that the action is based on the belief that “the benefits of soccer should be shared by the many, not the few, and that soccer’s top division should include the best teams, not the teams that pay certain sums of money.” Promotion/Relegation systems According to FIFA’s 2017 Annual Global Club Football Report, 84.5% of top-tier professional football competitions in the world use what is called a ‘promotion/relegation’ system, exemplified by the system used in English football. Deloitte have estimated the value of Premier League promotion at a minimum of £170 million – financially one of the biggest prizes in world football. In Europe we take promotion and relegation for granted, but for most teams – from the Premier League all the way to the Mid-Sussex Football League Division Nine – this is what motivates fans and players; the dream of promotion or the heartbreak of relegation. In the USA, the emotional rollercoaster that is the promotion/relegation system does not extend to Major League Soccer (MLS), the USA’s only top-tier sanctioned league. The league operates as a single entity structure which means that the owners of teams enter into a partnership whereby the league owns all broadcast and intellectual property rights and partners (owners of teams) share certain sources of revenue. The fixed franchise-based model that is popular in other US sports means that MLS, as a corporate entity, considers several criteria in choosing to award new franchises. These include determining financially secure and committed owners, ownership of, or approved plans for, a stadium, the local population and realistic size of the market for the club, and whether or not there is already an established local fan base. The franchise-based model used by most sports in the US should not be confused with the single entity structure which is unique even for American sports. The structure of MLS The single entity structure is largely attributed to the historical context of US soccer in the years before MLS was created – the boom and bust years. American soccer had endured years of instability, some teams grew faster than others, players’ wages spiralled out of control and many clubs became insolvent often due to the financial disparity. Following the 1994 World Cup in the USA, the USSF promised FIFA that it would establish a top division professional soccer league in the USA and MLS was born. To protect the league against instability, to ensure guaranteed returns for investors and to deter the possibility of anti-trust challenges, the league decided to use a closed league system managed by a single entity structure. The claim The nature of arbitration means that the precise details of the challenge are unknown, but it is understood that the claim is centred around Article 9(1) of the FIFA Statues which dictates that entry to domestic leagues must be based principally on sporting merit: “A club’s entitlement to take part in a domestic league championship shall depend principally on sporting merit. A club shall qualify for a domestic league championship by remaining in a certain division or by being promoted or relegated to another at the end of the season.” MLS and the legal framework of world football The MLS is a limited liability company and a member of the USSF – the official governing body of soccer in the United States. The USSF is an affiliate member of both CONCACAF and FIFA, a consequence of which is that it is bound by their statues. CONCACAF is the continental governing body for football in North and Central America as well as the Caribbean region. The obligations of each of these entities can be traced to the FIFA Statutes. CONCACAF has its own Statutes, Article 2 of which sets out the objectives of the Federation: “to ensure that the bodies and Officials of CONCACAF and its Member Associations observe the statutes, regulations, decisions, disciplinary code and code of ethics of each of FIFA and CONCACAF.” Article 12 of the CONCACAF Statutes governs the obligations of its Member Associations, which include the USSF: “to comply fully with the statutes, regulations and decisions of FIFA and CONCACAF as applicable to Member Associations at all times (including the FIFA code of ethics and the Code of Ethics) and to ensure that these are also respected by its own members, Leagues, Clubs, Officials and Players as applicable to them.” The USSF uses Bylaws instead of statutes, number 103 of which provides that: “The Federation and its members are, to the extent permitted by governing law, obliged to respect the statutes, regulations, directives, and decisions of FIFA and of CONCACAF, and to ensure that these are likewise respected by their members.” Under Bylaw 212 (1) a condition of both obtaining and maintaining membership is to: “…except as otherwise required by applicable law, comply with all Bylaws, policies and requirements of the Federation, and all statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA and CONCACAF, each as they may be amended or modified from time-to-time, to the extent applicable to that classification of Organization Member.” A possible defence As mentioned above, since this is an arbitration, we do not know the arguments that are being deployed by any of the parties. The USSF will however almost certainly rely on Article 9(2) of the FIFA Statutes which does allow for other considerations when deciding on participation in domestic leagues: “In addition to qualification on sporting merit, a club’s participation in a domestic league championship may be subject to other criteria within the scope of the licensing procedure, whereby the emphasis is on sporting, infrastructural, administrative, legal and financial considerations. Licensing decisions must be able to be examined by the member association’s body of appeal.” The expansion committee determines the admission of new MLS franchises and consists of ownership representatives from five clubs including Jonathan Kraft (New England Revolution), Andrew Hauptman (Chicago Fire), Anthony Precourt (Columbus Crew SC), Phil Rawlins (Orlando City SC) and Jay Sugarman (Philadelphia Union). They may argue that in addition to the criteria described above, sporting merit is also taken into account when making decisions on the admission new franchises. Another potential defence could be grounded in the requirements for suspension and expulsion under the FIFA Statutes. Article 14 and 15 provide for this in circumstances where there is a ‘serious violation’ of the Statutes. The Respondents may therefore argue the position that this violation is not ‘serious’, particularly given that it is something FIFA knows about and has not chosen to address previously. In 2008 FIFA published an article titled ‘FIFA to tackle areas of concern’ which specifically referred to the promotion/relegation system and was the precursor to Article 9: “Concept: Results on the pitch decide whether a club goes up or down a level in every championship around the world except in the United States and Australia, where there are “closed” leagues. Recently it has been possible to achieve promotion artificially by buying or moving a club. FIFA wishes to make sure that this cannot happen again. Objective: To protect the traditional promotion and relegation system for clubs based purely on sporting criteria – which is the very essence of football. Application: The decision was taken at the FIFA Executive Committee meeting on 15 December in Tokyo. The article will now be submitted to the Congress next May for approval and implementation as a “new article” within the rules governing the application of the Statutes.” Despite this, no action has been taken by FIFA, CONCACAF or the USSF to make amendments to the MLS system. It is important to note that the MLS is also not the only league that uses a closed system, the Australian A-League and the burgeoning Indian Super League being good examples. The US soccer dilemma Although its appeal on the world stage has grown and it has been increasingly able to attract premium players (albeit usually at the twilight of their career), MLS is not a league that competes with the top European leagues in terms of quality. Commercially, MLS has been the most successful iteration of US soccer and this, together with the fact that FIFA have sanctioned the league as the only top-tier provider in the US and Canada, provides the owners with a strong hand. The reality is that some of the best arguments for abandoning the closed league system are commercial. In November 2016 the Deloitte Sports Business Group published a study analysing promotion and relegation in US professional club soccer. It noted that the current system protects loss and capital call minimisation at the expense of profit maximisation. The report suggests that if the league can (i) come to a decision on the optimum number of teams in the existing US leagues; (ii) manage the stability of second-tier leagues; and (iii) protect the equity of long-term league investors, then a system of promotion/relegation would benefit the growth and development of the sport in the US. However until such a time that current investors can be convinced that it will benefit them in the round, they are unlikely to willingly subject themselves to risk. Whether the CAS can force that decision upon them, remains to be seen.
Major League Soccer: In Defiance of FIFA - Lexology
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Rugby League keeps expanding into new international markets. Makes AFL China thing look silly. International pro rel New York team managed by former Bradford and St Helens coach Mick Potter sets sights on Super League- A New York team could be set to begin play in the Rugby Football League
- Sportsmail understands a consortium is working on bringing the vision to life
- Former Bradford and St Helens coach Mick Potter could lead the new team
By GEORGE CLARKE FOR THE DAILY MAIL PUBLISHED: 00:13 BST, 26 August 2017 | UPDATED: 00:39 BST, 26 August 2017 A New York team is set to join the Rugby Football League by 2020 with the aim of reaching Super League. Sportsmail understands a consortium was asked to submit a business plan to the RFL last month and the unveiling of the side is set to take place in October, ahead of the Rugby League World Cup in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The new club, as yet unnamed, is set to be managed by former Bradford and St Helens coach Mick Potter and has already held discussions with the Mayor of New York’s office regarding potential stadiums. Former Bradford and St Helens coach Mick Potter could head up the New York project The move comes after the Toronto Wolfpack were admitted to the British leagues earlier this year. The Canadian side have started in League One — the third tier of professional rugby league — and are expected to seal promotion to the Championship next week. Toronto’s CEO Eric Perez is believed to be fronting the consortium leading the bid for a side from New York. The Wolfpack have negotiated their own TV deal and home crowds have at times been over 7,000 despite a relative lack of intimate knowledge of the sport among locals. Former Bradford and Great Britain coach Brian Noble is Toronto’s director of rugby and the squad — a combination of British, Australasian and North American players — have played their matches in four-game blocks in Canada, before returning to a UK base to fulfil their fixtures. Toronto lodged a bond of around £300,000 with the RFL earlier this year to help cover costs of travel and accommodation for the clubs flying to Canada to play them. New York are close to signing a sponsorship deal with an airline and are expected to follow a similar process by guaranteeing the RFL cash to give to clubs to travel over the pond. Toronto are financed by Australian mining tycoon David Argyle, and it is believed that it is his business associates who will bankroll the new New York club. There have also been talks about basing franchises in Montreal, Chicago and Jacksonville. As it stands neither Toronto nor New York receive RFL central funding from the TV deal in the UK with Sky Sports. Toronto’s current broadcast deal in the UK is with Premier Sports, while they hold an agreement with GameTV back in Canada. But if both sides were to be in Super League, Sky Sports and its sister company Fox Sports are likely to increase their current broadcast package with the clubs. The side from the Big Apple may start in League One too, but the RFL are soon expected return to a system of licensing - where teams are accepted on the strength of criteria such as stadia and finances. This means New York could theoretically go straight into Super League - the sport’s premier competition - if their bid was strong enough. Although the RFL insist there is ‘no room for additional teams’ in the league structure, the likelihood is that a reorganisation of the divisions and possible mergers may free up space. The hope is that a competition with New York, alongside Toronto, the Catalan Dragons, Toulouse and possibly other franchises from Dublin and Montreal, will increase sponsorship and broadcast rights deals. The 2025 World Cup is set to be staged in America and Canada and the sport has been played in America since the Nineties. The national team - the Hawks - are coached by Leeds boss Brian McDermott and will take part in this year’s World Cup having finished in the quarter-finals in 2013’s edition. An RFL spokesman said: ‘We regularly receive enquiries to join the league system and a number of interested clubs from around the world have registered their interest in joining in recent years. ‘We currently have no room for additional teams but we are sure that the success of the Toronto Wolfpack, the world’s first Trans-Atlantic professional sports team, will peak the interest of potential owners and investors around the world and we will receive more enquiries in the coming months and years.’
New York team sets sights on Super League | Daily Mail Online
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Northern NSW Football tips 6000 crowd for NPL grand final
Saturday’s NPL grand final between Edgeworth and Lambton could attract more than 6000 fans to McDonald Jones Stadium, according to a “bullish” prediction from Northern NSW Football.
The federation is gearing up for a busy week promoting its first grand final at the stadium, where Hamilton Olympic, Maitland and the Emerging Jets will field teams in the lower grades. “We certainly hope people get behind it,” NNSWF chief executive David Eland said. “Let’s be bullish. I’d hope that we’d get at least 6000 there on the weekend.
“We’re going to have a great first-grade game. Lambton with the Griffiths brothers and Jobe Wheelhouse, and Edgeworth’s performance speaks for itself. “We’re putting a lot into the precinct entertainment and event presentation.” A crowd of 6000 would be larger than the Newcastle Jets’ smallest attendance in the A-League last season. Sunday’s inaugural Northern League One grand finals at Magic Park attracted a bumper crowd of almost 3200 across five matches.
“It is more than usual. We do our budgeting and KPIs around 1500 to 2000 for the Northern League One GFs,” Eland said.
“We were expecting a fair turnout, but over 3000 was fantastic. It shows that the clubs are really developing now as they get more grades and more supporters.
“Having more underpinning youth grades is certainly building the club culture, whereas in the past they’ve only had senior teams.” Graham Law, who coached Cooks Hill to a 4-0 win over Belmont-Swansea in the Northern League One first-grade decider, said his club could be in a position to push for elevation to the NPL before that competition’s three-year licence period expires at the end of 2019.
Eland said the NNSWF board had the option to grant Northern League One clubs an NPL licence before 2019, although none of the clubs were pushing for promotion yet.
NNSWF will introduce under-14s to Northern League One next year and is looking to align the second tier with the top league, whose clubs operate teams from under-13s upwards and are starting to absorb the SAP program for younger players.
The clubs’ lack of under-13 and under-14 teams was a sticking point to forming an NPL 2 competition this year. NNSWF is moving towards that format in 2020, which would allow for promotion and relegation between the two grades.
NNSWF is encouraging fans to buy grand final tickets online from Ticketmaster before Saturday.
Northern tips 6000 crowd for NPL final | Newcastle Herald
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Angus
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NNSW had p&r up until last year but got rid of it for this 3 year cycle. They also added 3 regional representative teams into the youth side of the NPL which has been a mainly a good thing. The team from Tamworth dropped out pre-season.
All the junior players have been offered freebies to the senior grand final I believe.
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From 4th tier to Serie A, Lazzari enjoying Spal fairytaleSpal's Manuel Lazzari celebrates after scoring during a Serie A soccer match between Spal and Udinese, at the Paolo Mazza Stadium in Ferrara, Italy, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017. (Serena Campanini/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press Posted: Aug. 29, 2017 8:00 am Updated: Aug. 29, 2017 2:17 pm MILAN (AP) — Just over three years ago, Manuel Lazzari was playing in the fourth tier of Italian football. On Sunday, the 23-year-old scored his first Serie A goal. Lazzari netted Spal's second goal to help his side beat Udinese 3-2 and record its first Serie A win in nearly 50 years. It was a huge reward for Lazzari, who has battled to keep alive his footballing dreams since being released by Vicenza's youth team aged 16. "I even thought about quitting," Lazzari said. "It was a very tricky period of my life. "I owe everything to my family, I started again from Serie D, fighting against every obstacle." Lazzari went to fifth-division Montecchio Maggiore in 2010 and spent the following season at another amateur club, Delta Porto Tolle, before moving to Giacomense in 2012. The midfielder was kept by Spal after its merger with Giacomense in 2013 and is the only player that has been with the club through its rise up the divisions and back into the top flight. Lazzari, who extended his contract through 2021 in July, has grown with Spal. "I've abandoned that shyness that sometimes made me hide on the pitch," he said. "Playing in the second division gave me awareness of my skills ... and the fact that I'm stubborn and I never want to lose." It was the third goal Lazzari had scored for Spal, with his other two coming in 2016. Lazzari's fairytale is mirrored by Spal, which is back in the top flight for the first time since 1968. The year Lazzari was born, 1993, Spal was relegated to the third division and the club went on to endure two bankruptcies and five changes of ownership. But Spal managed to climb back to Serie A just five years after again being refounded, thanks in part to back-to-back promotions. In 2016, Spal reached Serie B for the first time since 1993. Then it surprisingly beat Hellas Verona to the title to gain promotion, thanks to the most prolific attack and the third-best defense last season. Coach Leonardo Semplici has been the mastermind behind Spal's climb up the leagues, after the former Fiorentina youth team coach took charge at the end of 2014. Spal prided itself on having an all-Italian side. That is no more after the likes of Greek defender Marios Oikonomou and Brazilian center back Felipe joined in the offseason. But, with a mix of experience and youth, it has impressed at the start of the season. The victory over Udinese came a week after a credible 0-0 draw at Lazio, which was fresh from beating Juventus in the Italian Super Cup. "Everyone already has us as relegated, but we have started excellently with two good results," Semplici said. "We are happy to have taken a historic team like Spal into the top division, and regardless of the fact everyone already has us as relegated we are doing just fine." Spal's next match after the international break is at Inter Milan. "We'll go to San Siro with humility and respect," Semplici said, "but we'll try to make life difficult for Inter too."
From 4th tier to Serie A, Lazzari enjoying Spal fairytale - New Jersey Herald -
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aussie scott21
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The new independent league seeks to begin play in 2018/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56453409/news_placeholder_300x200.0.jpg) National Independent Soccer AssociationOn August 30th, the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) announced that eight bids have been submitted to join the league for its proposed inaugural 2018 season. Ownership groups in Charlotte, Chattanooga, Connecticut, Miami, Milwaukee, Omaha, Phoenix, and St. Louis submitted bids for teams. Charlotte, Miami, Phoenix and St. Louis are all currently home to United Soccer League (USL) or North American Soccer League (NASL) teams. NISA was created as the third division of U.S. professional soccer and expects to have 8-10 teams in its first season. The league eventually intends on instituting promotion and relegation in conjunction with an independent second and fourth division league. In a press release, NISA states that it has letters of intent from 15 different markets and has had discussions with owners from a total of 45 markets. Seven of the letters of intent are from ownership groups that would like to join in 2019. Expansion will be capped at a maximum of 24 teams by 2021. It is unclear whether the NISA will institute a salary cap. The league’s website states that “first year teams will have financial incentives that will more than offset any additional travel expenses caused by spread out markets. When NISA fully populates at 24 teams, it will have two conferences, each with two divisions so that clubs are grouped regionally to enhance rivalries and minimize travel expenses.” NISA is co-founded by Peter Wilt and Jack Cummins. Wilt has been involved in American soccer for many years. He served as Chicago Fire’s first president and general manager. More recently, he was president of NASL Side Indy Eleven from 2014 to 2016. According to the Chicago NASL website, Jack Cummins “is an experienced entrepreneur and attorney who develops intellectual property driven companies in sports, entertainment, social media, and IT.” Cummins, and Wilt are both involved in trying to establish an NASL team in Chicago. Additionally, both were former owners of the Chicago Red Stars when they were in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS). The USL plans to launch its own separate third division in 2019. NISA emphasizes that it will be independently owned and governed by team owners, unlike the USL third division. On September 1st, NISA and its teams will make a presentation to the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. The league will seek sanctioning from U.S. Soccer, as the third division, before launching in the spring. Are you excited for NISA to launch? Do you think it’s viable in the long term?
Eight cities bid to join 3rd division National Independent Soccer Association - Stars and Stripes FC
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TheSelectFew
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+xNNSW had p&r up until last year but got rid of it for this 3 year cycle. They also added 3 regional representative teams into the youth side of the NPL which has been a mainly a good thing. The team from Tamworth dropped out pre-season. All the junior players have been offered freebies to the senior grand final I believe. NNSW are rubbish.
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aussie scott21
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Inaugural Applicant Markets Announced for New US Pro Third Division Soccer League | |
National Independent Soccer Association Plans to Launch in 2018 or 2019; Receives Applications from Eight Markets; Has 15 LOIs and in Discussions with 45 Total Markets NISA: Chicago (Wednesday, August 30, 2017) – The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), a new independent third division professional soccer league, announced eight markets today that have submitted applications to be part of the league’s inaugural season in 2018 (or 2019) subject to US Soccer sanctioning, which is part of the process to launch a professional soccer league. The markets with applications are:
| Charlotte Chattanooga Connecticut Miami | Milwaukee Omaha Phoenix St. Louis |
“We are pleased with the applicants as well as the people and the vision behind each application,” NISA Co-Founder Peter Wilt said. “The critical step to fully vet each market now moves into an important phase, so we can be assured of the applicants’ and the League’s success. Each successful applicant will need to show us and US Soccer that it has a proper venue, financial model, business plan, administration and ownership to assure sustainability,” Wilt said. NISA had previously announced June 7th that it had received letters of intent to join from ten markets. That list grew to 15 before today’s announcement, while discussions continue with a total of 45 different markets. The applications have simultaneously been submitted to the United States Soccer Federation which will vet the submissions along with NISA to assess readiness to start next spring. Seven of the markets that submitted LOIs have held their applications back for 2019 while preparing to meet the minimum standards of NISA and US Soccer for a Division III team. NISA is also in discussion with dozens of other markets that hope to join in 2019. NISA plans to cap its membership at 24 teams by 2021 at which point the only avenue to entry will be via purchasing an existing team or through NISA’s planned promotion and relegation structure with other independent professional soccer leagues. Pursuit of a promotion and relegation structure is one of NISA’s five pillars of its foundation: - An affordable professional Division III national soccer league with regional based competition
- An independent league with team owners controlling their franchises
- A plan to limit the League to 24 teams and incorporate promotion and relegation once fully populated
- A strong league office that serves its teams with quality staff supplemented by expert consultants
- Commercial and competitive connections to higher and lower divisions to maximize relevance
“These pillars are critical to differentiate NISA and provide the framework for a sustainable league that will ensure success for itself as well as for other independent leagues that share our vision for an open structure that will provide all soccer clubs with a pathway to fulfill their ambitions,” Wilt said. The next step for NISA is presentation of the teams and leagues to the US Soccer Board of Directors Friday, September 1st in Jersey City, New Jersey. “We have been working closely with Dan Flynn, Jeff L’Hote and US Soccer as we’ve built the foundation of NISA,” said NISA Co-Founder Jack Cummins. “The communication with US Soccer has been excellent. We share the same desire to build the sport with stable teams, a well run league and a sustainable business model,” Cummins said. The National Independent Soccer Association is a United States based third division professional soccer league preparing to launch in the spring of 2018. The League is committed to bringing high level, competitive professional soccer with meaningful games throughout the country. For more information about NISA visit www.NISAOfficial.com or contact Peter Wilt at peter@nisaofficial.com or by phone at 317-292-7993 or 312-464-9842. Follow NISA on Twitter @NISAleague. National Independent Soccer Association
415 North LaSalle, Suite 401, Chicago, IL 60654
Inaugural Applicant Markets Announced for New US Pro Third Division Soccer League
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aussie scott21
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WAFL still scores goals for diehard supporters
Rourke WalshFor the past three decades it has been the little brother of WA football but this weekend the WAFL will be back centrestage. In the absence of AFL matches, the WAFL finals will be the premier football show in town. The clash between Swan Districts and West Perth at Bassendean Oval tomorrow is likely to draw the biggest crowd of the season. Excitement has been building among the faithful and when The Weekend West visited training this week, dozens of members and supporters had turned out to watch. Ray McNair, 73, has followed Swans all his life and said he preferred it to the AFL because fans could connect with the players on a more personal level. A few years back, Mr McNair held his 70th birthday at the clubrooms and when he arrived to find the players were all at the ground for a preseason game, he invited them along. “They all came up and helped me celebrate,” he said. “That is the kind of contact that makes the club special to be a part of.” Terrence Meredith went to his first game at Bassendean in the 1960s as an eight-year-old who had travelled down from York. He said that while the crowds were not as big these days, the atmosphere at WAFL games was still second to none. “There were huge crowds in the 60s — standing room only,” Mr Meredith said. “Hopefully, we can get a big crowd again this weekend and have a win. I like the noise — people make plenty of noise when they come to the games. It’s more open. You can do things like go into the rooms when they sing the song.”  Fans Terrence Meredith, David Dean, Michael Burlo and Clayton Sutcliffe at Bassendean.Picture: The West AustralianA big drawcard for the game will be Swans captain Tallan Ames, who will play his 261st — and possibly last — game. The full-back is weighing up retirement but will focus on a deep run into the finals first. “I’ll make a decision over the next few weeks, but that decision could even be made as quickly as Sunday afternoon,” he said. “The Swans’ stalwart supporters have always come out to support the boys. We are looking forward to a great crowd here — there is no AFL and everyone is coming back to the WAFL to get the footy fix.” Swan Districts football manager Phil Smart said the club hoped as many as 6000 people would turn up for the game. “The AFL bye heading into finals is a bonus for WA footy,” he said. “This is our State league, it’s got more than 100 years heritage and it would be great for people to come out and support that.”
WAFL still scores goals for diehard supporters | The West Australian
ARF and RLFCs got screwed in WA, SA & Qld like many football clubs across Australia.
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