A-LEAGUE PROMOTION/ RELEGATION COULD MIRROR K-LEAGUE

This week on an administrative level, it reached a head as it was revealed a number of NPL clubs were looking to form a national second division after months of umming and ahhing from the powers that be at FFA Headquarters.

While some see this as a rebellious move by clubs within the member federations, the move to create a legitimate national second tier is not without merit, nor precedent.

The Australian footballing fraternity does not have to look too far abroad to find inspiration of just how a second division can be implemented on a national scale.

It was only in 2011, when Asian rivals South Korea were undergoing their own expansion and promotion/relegation debate.

The result of which is what is now known as the 'K-League Challenge' kicking off in 2013 with immediate promotion and relegation.

Initially this promotion and relegation consisted of a playoff between the bottom team of the top tier K-League and the champions of the K-League Challenge.


While the following season direct promotion and relegation was implemented for the champions and wooden spooners, one team from the now named 'K-League Classic' and three from the K-League Challenge still take part in pro/rel playoffs.

Does this mean we should have a national second division and promotion/relegation within two years? No.

But what it does show is that with meticulous planning - it took two years for Korean footballing dreams to come to fruition - it is possible.

Australian football is currently at fever pitch with recurring talk of expansion, promotion and relegation and growth.

With cautious optimism, Australian football can capitalise on this.

After all, the A-League faced its own challenges in its formative years with geographical isolation among teams and dithering crowds between teams amongst the main concerns of the fledgling new league.

If the FFA welcome the formation of a second division by these ‘rebel’ clubs, perhaps the gracious hand of the league carrier - currently QANTAS - could be stretched further to subsidise the costs of travel between long distance rivals.

Seperate from the A-League, it would not sully the quality we’ve came to expect from the national league and with prerequisites in place, eventual promotion to the A-League could also require certain benchmarks to be met to protect the product of the game.

This is a system used in some footballing leagues, including lower league football in England where if a team is not up to Football League standards, they will not be admitted into the Football League from non-league football.

Granted, this hasn’t happened in recent times, but the structures are in place to avoid teams crumbling into financial deficit.

With the AFC and FIFA leaning on Football Federation Australia to shake up the game, now would be the perfect opportunity to take the curveball that the NPL clubs have thrown and run for it.

Our Asian neighbours have proved it can be done, and with the passion from fans outside the top-tier of football in Australia, the drive to do so is already there.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com.au/analysis/a-league-promotion-relegation-could-mirror-k-league-454858

I personally can't see why the FFA would be against a second tier (especially if they are not financially accountable). Promotion / relegation may be a way off (although if the second division comes along strong enough it may not be that "bad" to drop down). Also I'd say the number of A-League sides could be expanded first (so could even only allow teams that get promoted from the second tier to be relegated until licenses are up or the like for A-League clubs).

The only reason I could see if they saw it as part of a larger power struggle where they felt they were losing power and control.

Make no mistake that this second division cannot survive long term without the FFA's imprimatur.

Why don't you post as MF?

Or just fuck off permanently

Presumably because MF got banned

FFA under pressure from NPL clubs as FIFA backs plans for national second division

Bonnyrigg White Eagles are one of the teams pushing for a national second division.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles are one of the teams pushing for a national second division. Photo: Football NSW
Football Federation Australia is coming under increasing pressure to establish a national second division after FIFA threw its support behind a bid from National Premier League clubs to remodel the lower tiers of the game, with some clubs not ruling out a breakaway league.

More than two-thirds of the country's 129 NPL clubs have joined forces to establish the Association of Australian Football Clubs, which wants at least one seat at the expanded FFA Congress, as well as a national second division below the A-League.

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A meeting of representatives of more than 80 clubs will take place in Melbourne on Monday with the backing of FIFA, which is supporting their push for greater inclusion and influence in the game in Australia.

"Our association is not about trying to repair the past but focused on growing football for the future," AAFC spokesman Tom Kalas said.

APIA Leichhardt, Marconi, Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Sydney United are among the first NSW clubs to join the AAFC and are pushing for a national second division that will sit as the highest division above the existing state-run structures. Those leading the campaign from Victoria have held constructive talks with FFA's head of community football, Emma Highwood, about a proposed second tier and representation at the congress level.

The clubs' united push is for a sanctioned national competition that would not involve promotion and relegation in the immediate future to the A-League, but could serve as the basis in the future.

Several clubs are increasingly determined to be part of the national framework and, in a sign of their frustration, have not ruled out forming a rebel national league should FFA reject their proposal. While not their priority, it remains a possibility for clubs unhappy with conditions in the NSW state-run league, including annual participation fees of about $100,000, the restructure of youth development systems and restrictions of player sale prices to A-League clubs.

"It's a necessary evil to engage the disengaged," Sydney United president Sam Krslovic said. "We're hopeful that it won't be a rebel league. We're hoping that everyone will come on board and realise we're part of the family, but if the FFA won't help or endorse it, then what's the alternative? Let's not forget the EPL started as a breakaway league."

Any breakaway competition would not be sanctioned by FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation or FFA, meaning any players taking part would not be eligible to play for youth, women's or senior national teams and take part in other competitions, such as the FFA Cup. There would likely be further implications surrounding insurance.

An FFA spokesman said the governing body is seeking more information on the proposal from the AAFC.

"FFA has been in touch with the organisers of Monday's meeting and is keen to understand more about what any national NPL organisation would hope to achieve in the short, medium and long-term," the spokesman said. "It is important to note that NPL clubs are already at the core of the representation structures of member federations in the governance structure of Australian football."

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/ffa-under-pressure-from-npl-clubs-as-fifa-backs-plans-for-national-second-division-20170315-guyudr.html

It would probably have more support considering Qld only has 12 NPL teams and over 30 have applied to join the new 2 tier system.

Any NZ clubs been invited over for these talks?

Any club that does well on and off the field deserves a look into the A-league. A second division is a perfect chance to test interest, support and financial viability. There is a definite need to allow clubs the ability to build and grow, although automatic promotion and relegation would be a disaster. 

Hope not! 

we got enough issues with travel just on our own continent before adding any sheep lovers. 

And also smaller regions like NNSW are happy for one club to represent them.

I'm sorry what? Dandenong is the Paramatta of Melbourne brah

No its not. Not even close. To be parammata you have to have infrastructure and history as an actual football heartland, not just allege to be one. 

I think it was sarcasm mate.. you know the whole dandenong/casey will be the next wanderers crap..

Surely people from Sydney come up with this. 

"While not their priority, it remains a possibility for clubs unhappy with conditions in the NSW state-run league, including annual participation fees of about $100,000, the restructure of youth development systems and restrictions of player sale prices to A-League clubs."

There was also the report iirc that MKs said they pay $40 000 per year to the FFA.

I'm sure question will keep being asked why they can't just channel that money into a new league. $100 000 is a good start for clubs.

Any large, semi-professional sporting competition has hefty entrance fees, to pay for the administration and running of the league, that includes refs, administration, office space, part-time tribunal members, etc, etc.

?

What are you talking about

Do we have meetings friday and monday? Or just monday?

Dont respond. 

There should be at least 2 NZ clubs invited since they can bring in some TV money or take it away.

If they were starting the league next year via performance and not application basis I would like to see an aggregate from when the NPL started (2013) and perhaps 4 from NSW, Vic, Qld and 2 from SA. To begin with , which is close to reflecting FFA Cup numbers.

I wouldn't like it to be the winners from this season for example. I would like at least 2 seasons so clubs can build up squads etc so it doesn't punish any teams who have a bad season this year but have performed in the recent past.

This was something I was thinking about earlier in regards to how SMFC season has been thus far.. If the NPL First Division was decided on this season results they could potentially miss out on HAL and this new divsion when over the years they have probably been the biggest voice for it.

I agree with your premise that clubs from those 4 states would be best positioned to give it a crack although from a personal view I'd love to see a Tasmanian team involved preferably one thats combined to represent the state.

Someone on another thread queried me when I referred to a "paucity of details".

This sort of conjecture is precisely what I am talking about.

The push appears to be focused in the SE corner of Australia - and I predict that where the clubs will be coming from.

I think its a nationwide push, its just understandably assumed that its focused on the SE corner as that's where the largest area of football clubs/participants are based which then leads into it being more financially stable etc.

I doubt they're going to start an association for clubs nationwide then deny certain clubs access because they're from certain areas.

Well, if this is all about self-interest, and let's be honest, it's likely to be about self-interest, then the nomenclature is neither here or there.

The power base will be in the SE corner, the least cost option is having all the clubs in the SE corner, and that's what they will decide to do (and as I said to Waz yesterday, there are other sports which have managed to have a "national" 2nd tier focused almost entirely in the SE corner).

Isn't Friday the A-League clubs and FFA and Monday is NPL clubs?

yes Monday is the NPL meeting. Not sure about the FFA one