You know all about the football in Townsville.
To clarify no one asked for the fury
Under Gareth Edda the where doing well
Until 2 weeks ago they had not won a game for 3 years
No matter what people said rahbi wouldn't change anything
No one goes to the games
No one cares
Everyone wants them gone
And now you want rahbi on the ffa, doomed to failure.

I personally think promotion and relegation is a essential part of football.

I'd love to see a second tier played in Summer as a midweek competition meaning from Tues to Thurs Evenings with potentially 4 live games per week (Perth time zone) 
There should be breaks in fixturing for crucial FFA Cup Games and perhaps ACL Games and NT

Preference should be not to Agitate existing  HAL exposure but rather add more content around current content whilst adding additional football content during summer to combat other sports such as BBL and others

How the bloody hell would i know anything of the football in Townsville, I'm the best part of 3000klms away.

I'm not calling for anyone to be on the FFA, I don't know enough about it.

The reason i asked you the question was because while trying to work out why you would be so against one particular club, it clicked with me

It's all symptomatic of everyone wanting the next bloke who opens his mouth to be a saviour (when in all likelihood, he's just a very naughty boy).

This NPL revolution is predominantly consolidated in the SE corner of Australia - expect most, if not all, of the clubs to come from SE Australia, at least in its first season.

It was good when Gareth Edds ran it but rahbi soon stuffed that.

Why don't you do research on how the team ran then and who was running it and who left the team and then compair it to last season, who was there when they came in and what happened then?

You I think is a telling a little white lie

If you want rahbi as your spokesman to the ffa go for it knock yourself out. Hahahaha

A suggestion I had made in previous discussion about a future 2nd division was that it be played summer Thursday through to Monday with the Thursday and Monday game broadcast every week.  The A-League could stop for the international window and Div 2 could be broadcast all that weekend.

I'm not exactly sure who you have me confused with but ill play along.

I don't know this rahbi bloke from a beef stew.

You just seem to have a real beef (see what i did there :lol: ) with this fury mob 

You is a lire
We will give you rahbi for the FFA's board representing the AAFC as long as he relinquished all other football board memberships ok. Townsville,s loss is the FFA's gain., but there you go his feathers where always too bright for us to keep him all to ourselves.😪

Well you've lost me. I'm still not sure what this Rahbi bloke has or hasn't done.

Someone wish to enlighten me on his history? 

He has run a few clubs into almost financial ruin before.

-PB

If it's a semi-pro league, most of the players would have other jobs wouldn't they? That would make it hard to get to midweek away games for most players.

Exactly. It would have to be played Saturday and Sunday

If there was 4 teams in Sydney and Melbourne you'd have more than enough local derbies to ensure there was one each week to be scheduled mid-week (enabling semi-pro players to maintain full-time work schedules). It could be an attractive option for Foxsports for live content mid-week, in the same way they've been happy with FFA Cup ratings. I think they're paying around $1 million a year for max of 15 live games despite low ratings because it's live and helps improve ratings across a solid 3 hour period with pre and post game shows.

Could be a small revenue raiser for a 12 team league with 22 or 33 rounds - an extra $100k to $200k per team would certainly help cover travel costs. A second division would be far more likely to sell (cheap) broadcast rights to Fox if it was mid-week content - even for Thursday or Monday night - than it would competing directly with HAL in summer or NRL and AFL in winter. Even selling them for $0 for the first year if they have a willing party would be extremely useful.

My suggestion was for when it gets to basic professional level which hopefully is sooner than later after it gets started at semi professional level.

Canberra Olympic coach Frank Cachia welcomes a proposed national second division

Canberra Olympic coach Frank Cachia has joined the chorus of those welcoming a proposed national second division.
Canberra Olympic coach Frank Cachia has joined the chorus of those welcoming a proposed national second division. Photo: Mark Kolbe
Canberra Olympic coach Frank Cachia has joined the chorus of those welcoming a proposed national second division.

Fairfax Media revealed National Premier League clubs, led by those in Victoria, were looking to set up the national second division on their own and were meeting in Melbourne last Monday.

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Canberra FC have indicated their interest in being part of the venture with Cachia also supporting the competition provided it was financially viable.

"It's a really interesting one isn't it, it has the potential to make a really significant change to the whole football landscape in Australia and it's something there is an appetite for around the country," Cachia said.

"There is a real push for a second tier with the idea of promotion and relegation and if it grows the game it's obviously a good thing, but a hell of a lot of work has to happen before it gets up and going."

Cachia was unsure if a second division would be sustainable for all clubs but believes it is worth finding out and said he is a huge supporter of a promotion system.

"There are lots of things which will impact clubs like travel budgets but I think it can get up and running. Some clubs are geared up for it and it's a great concept in that it's another pathway to the A-League, " Cachia said.

"I'm a big fan of promotion and relegation, it holds teams accountable and gives incentive for other teams coming through.

"But do you want the 10 best teams in the A-League or the 10 best teams geographically because if Adelaide and Perth get relegated we'll end with an A-League full of Sydney and Melbourne teams.

"One thing I like about the A-League goes is the limited number of teams, if you get too many teams you start diluting the quality."

Olympic will meet the Cooma Tigers on Saturday in the second annual Capital Football Charity Shield at Gungahlin Enclosed Oval at 6pm.

The clash will be a rematch of the Federation Cup Final last year which Olympic won to ignite their dream FFA Cup run to the semi-final.

"It's a trophy we want to win and is good preparation for the season proper, so we'll certainly approach it with a level of seriousness and experiment with a few new things," Cachia said.

"Stephen Domenici has joined us from the Tigers but we've played them that many times I don't think there is anything he can tell us that we don't already know.

"I'd love to say right now there's another deep FFA Cup run coming this season but look we're well prepared and a very stable team so we'll give it a good crack that's for sure."

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/act-sport/canberra-olympic-coach-frank-cachia-welcomes-a-proposed-national-second-division-20170317-gv0b72.html

Studs Up: National second division needed to boost player depth, says David Davutovic

'Great, we owe them one'

http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/external?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcontent4.video.news.com.au%2Ffoxsports%2Fprod%2Farchive%2F2017%2F04%2F15%2FDVU_GAMEDAY_MUSCAT_SYDNEY_FC_150417.jpg&width=650&api_key=kq7wnrk4eun47vz9c5xuj3mc
IN the last round of the 2000-01 National Soccer League season, 199 Australians featured with 161 of those starting.

That was the last Australian domestic season that ended with a 16-team national competition, comprising of 34 rounds and finals.

In last weekend’s 27th and final round of the A-League, 69 Australians started while another 23 came off the bench.

That’s 92 less starters and 107 less that played. Six less clubs and more internationals (46 visa players appeared last weekend) will do that.

Even in the last round of the last NSL season (2003-04), 119 Aussies started and another 33 came off the bench. Only 16 visa players appeared that weekend.

Ange Postecoglou wishes he had such a deep local player pool to scout, but with A-League expansion on the backburner that won’t change before Russia 2018.


NPL Victoria action from the Port Melbourne Sharks v Bentleigh Greens clash at the weekend.
This is why a national second division must be immediately prioritised and debated.

A second division would see between 100-150 more Australians given a local professional opportunity each week.

Depending on how many clubs would form part of the second division, it would create 10-16 new coaching jobs, opening doors for fresh emerging talents like Mark Rudan and Harry Kewell or wily state league campaigners like Damian Mori, John Anastasiadis and Brian Brown.

A national second division could revolutionise Australian soccer, making it more internationally competitive (which is the players’ union mantra) while providing the local scene with a needed shot in the arm.

'Perth have the wood on City'

The A-League will remain the holy grail where players and coaches aspire to be, but whether it’s the B-League or A2 League, a second tier would add excitement to a repetitive local scene.

A misconception about the union’s (Professional Footballers Australia) division two plan and cost analysis revealed by the Herald Sun last week was that existing clubs were excluded.

PFA chief executive John Didulica made it clear current clubs are welcome to apply, along with new entities and institutions.

The $5.5 million annual cost for running the club appears prohibitive for most clubs, but for those with professional ambitions it’s realistic and less than half of Melbourne Victory’s spend.

Former NSL clubs South Melbourne, Wollongong Wolves and Brisbane Strikers have made the most noise thus far, but more can and should throw their hat in the ring.

The Craig Foster-led South Expansion bid, Tasmania and Geelong (Victoria Patriots) lead the new franchise queue while opening it up to institutions that could benefit from football’s international exposure (ie. Universities and businesses) is intriguing.

A second division is not just viable but inevitable.

So let’s get talking and debating.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/studs-up-national-second-division-needed-to-boost-player-depth-says-david-davutovic/news-story/96cfce5a76dbc11db979dab9efbb14d3

Why wouldn't div 2 clubs be allowed 5 visa players?

"a second division is inevitable"
I'll believe it when I see it

fingers crossed it happens though I think the difference it would make to both player and coach development would be huge

I think with NSW going to 3 tiers of 14 and aligning itself with Victoria that those 2 Feds merging their top tiers for two divisions of 14 is the closest we will get in the near future before FFA gets close to a professional A2.

For 6-7 months/year the better NPL players earn enough to not need a regular job, but due to the lack of career opportunities in Australia and the need to earn something in the other 5-6 months, they opt for full time employment.  Players could be full-time pro in the 2nd division for 6 months during the A-League season, then go on-loan to NPL clubs for the other 6 months - giving them a year-round income, and in turn allowing them to train full time, having a chance to improve both fitness and technique AND freeing them up for mid-week fixtures.

I will put this article here as it is some what relevant. I don't agree with What DD implies that teams should be basically Australians only in a div 2.

What Les Murray writes below imo is madness. To mandate clubs to play youth, which he implies, is irresponsible. It would only bring down the level of the league/s.

If they are good enough they should play. Expansion and 2nd div would help this naturally without a stupid mandate.

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Why A-League teams should have a youth quota

We spoke about Panos Armenakas, young Australian starlet at Udinese, mutually admired by both of us. I lamented that at 18 the young man of immense technical talents should surely be promoted out of the Primavera and into the senior team at Udine.

I added for extra ammunition that Pelé won the World Cup at 17.

"Yes, but those days are gone," said Vince.

And indeed they are. Compared to past eras coaches, especially at the higher level professional clubs of Europe, just don’t give the kids a chance any more.

Occasionally they break through as teenagers but more often than not they then disappear, usually somewhere on loan.

Like Adnan Januzaj who burst through at Manchester United at age 18 with his quick turn of speed and wonderful technique. By age 19 he was a Belgian international. Remember him?

Now, at 22, he is in his second loan spell, first at Borussia Dortmund and then at Sunderland.

Another is, or was, Alen Halilovic, a brilliant, deflty creative midfielder who came through at Dinamo Zagreb at age 16 and was signed with big wraps by Barcelona two years later.

Within a year he was loaned out to Sporting Gijon, then signed by Hamburg and now, at just 20, he is again on loan, back in Spain at Las Palmas.

Brighton on top with win over Luongo's QPR

Brighton & Hove Albion moved back to the top of the Championship table with a 2-1 win over Massimo Luongo's Queens Park Rangers.

This stuff makes distressing reading. There are few worse downers for a football fan than getting all excited at the sight of a thrilling youngster only to see the kid wither on the vine even before he ripens.

There are a number of reasons for this in the modern game, the first of them being an aversion to risk-taking by today’s coaches.

Today coaches are far more influential than ever before in selecting their teams and how they set them up. Forever terrorised by the prospect of getting the sack they tend to play it safe and they consider it safer to select experienced players.

When Pelé was a mere child he was already scoring wonder goals at Santos. Brazil boss Vicente Feola simply had no way to leave him out of the national team even if he wanted to. The big difference is that now Pelé would still be in the youth team. Too young.

The second main reason is economic. Vast numbers of young players are given their chance at first team football in the developing world, especially South America and Africa.

The strategy is to place them in the shopwindow, give them a bit of valuable experience and then sell them in Europe.

Not all of them make it of course but many do and become superstars. Neymar, Kaká, Ronaldinho, Robinho, Luis Suarez, Samuel Eto’o come to mind.

But my conviction is that if they were Europeans they would never have been promoted.

The point being that these players went to Europe as young men but already with a good volume of experience at first team football, months and years playing against men.

Is there a lesson here for Australian players? Is there some advice for their parents and managers?

I believe there is.

Many Aussie kids go to Europe as children joining the youth squads of reputable clubs. Some break through eventually, like Massimo Luongo, Brad Smith and Chris Ikonomidis.

But not before spending seasons parked in the youth team waiting for a rare chance at promotion. Frustrated, they go out on loan as these three have done.

Would it be better for them to wait, break into an A-League team and get some senior games under their belt before making their move?

Alex Gersbach, the young left back now at Rosenborg in Norway, is a good example of a smarter route. Before he was 18 he was already a seasoned senior player, tallying up 32 games for Sydney FC.

Gersbach hungry for rapid Socceroos return

Alex Gersbach was a notable absentee from Australia's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and UAE, but the young gun is planning a swift return to the Socceroos fold.

Now in Norway in his first season he has made 22 appearances for the Rosenborg first team. He is a seasoned European professional waiting for his next move.

But he got lucky in that his coach at Sydney FC, Graham Arnold, believed in him.

Of course for this practice to work Australian coaches have to be a bit more generous in promoting the young ones. Our club coaches are no saints either, as Ange Postecoglou often laments.

It’s wonderful to see the odd kid break through, like Riley McGree at Adelaide or Lachlan Scott at the Wanderers. But they are far too few and rare.

The technical bosses at Football Federation Australia (FFA) have often moaned about this and tried to engineer youth promotion with quotas. But the clubs wouldn’t have it. Go figure. Promoting youngsters that you can then sell overseas makes eminent business sense to me.

In my view there definitely should be a quota system in the A-League that is more generous to the kids. Left to their own devices, the coaches simply won’t give them a chance.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/blog/2017/04/17/why-league-teams-should-have-youth-quota

Benefits would be endless and will increase the revenue of the game. FFA must tap into the streaming market.

A-League second division for 2018-19 'a realistic goal'

Michael Huguenin

Updated at 3:11 a.m. ET

Northern Fury chairman Rabieh Krayem has welcomed Professional Footballers Australia's (PFA) research on a national second division and has claimed the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC) will add to the discussion in the next couple of months.

MORE: Almost 100 clubs meet in AAFC's first official meeting

While Krayem and PFA CEO John Didulica differ slightly on the details of what a second-tier competition under the A-League might look like, both are completely convinced that there has never been a better time to make it happen.

In fact, Krayem reckons a professional second-tier competition is feasible within 18 months and confirmed it is something Fury would be interested in.

"I think if all parties worked together, there's no reason why a second tier couldn't happen in the 2018-19 season. I think that's a realistic goal," he told Goal.

"There is a groundswell amongst the football community to pursue this further.

"I think most importantly, everyone agrees that we should have one. It's now about coming up with a model that's financially sustainable and delivers more opportunities for young players in Australia to go to the next level."

Since the AAFC - a representative body for clubs in the state-based National Premier Leagues (NPL) - was officially established in March, it has been working towards releasing official positions on how a national second division and promotion-relegation could work in Australia.

"I would be very surprised if we don't have a position sorted by the end of May or June," Krayem said.

Hume City v Brisbane Strikers FFA Cup 29072015

Hume City v Brisbane Strikers, FFA Cup

With Football Federation Australia putting A-League expansion on the backburner as it looks to restructure its governance model and attract more capital to Australia's premier competition, Didulica believes work on a second division should begin "sooner rather than later".

COMMENT: Is FFA missing an expansion opportunity?

"We need more employment, more secure employment, we need pathways for young players, for retiring players, we need pathways for coaches - so these are the things that are motivating us," he told Goal.

"You wrap that around our need to be internationally competitive in terms of global competition, it makes very sound policy sense to build our professional football footprint."

Earlier this month, PFA revealed what it believes a national second division would cost clubs in a report in the Herald Sun.

Possible 'B-League' candidates

According to Didulica, the figures of $5.5milllion per club - including player wages of approximately $1.5m - plus $10-12m for central running costs of the division would ensure a new competition between the A-League and the NPL would be a "genuine step forward".

While Krayem baulks at the idea a second division club would need an annual turnover of over $5m, Didulica is unapologetic about setting high standards for a competition that would potentially provide future A-League representatives.

Daniel McBreen Bentleigh Greens v Edgeworth FC NPL Finals 17092016

Bentleigh Greens v Edgeworth Eagles, National Premier Leagues Finals

"We need to actually set the bar at the level that we can constructively build Australian football," the PFA boss said.

FFA Cup could force promotion-relegation

"Part of that is a player pathway piece, which is the players need to be in a professional environment and that comes with a price-tag.

"The second part is that clubs - if they are realistic about joining the A-League, if they're realistic about having a high quality product for their fans - that needs to be at a certain level as well… there's no point in having a second tier where clubs are turning over $1.5m or $2m."

Where Didulica and Krayem do agree is that the best way to ensure a professional national second tier is a success is by having as many key stakeholders involved as possible.

Murray, Foster front Southern Expansion A-League bid

They also agree that although promotion-relegation is the ultimate goal it wouldn't be immediately introduced upon the formation of a second division to the A-League.

With at least 10 clubs and entities having already publically declared their interest in joining an expanded A-League, and numerous other NPL outfits keen to return to a professional environment, there is clearly an appetite for the concept.

http://www.sportingnews.com/au/football/news/a-league-second-division-for-2018-19-a-realistic-goal/1wey6n5nej8hi1qeepbxmixose


Again, it is ridiculous to demand women's and youth teams if you agree that pro rel is the goal....

The PFA have basically done research on another league not a 2nd div. If the end goal is PR that cap will have to be scrapped at some point too

The PFA has researched and costed a fully professional 2nd division.  That can be worked up to over a period of time in my view.  They did a similar report for the replacement of the NSL 15 years ago.  The NSL Task Force Report done after the initial PFA work put a 5 year time line to get to a full cost NSL replacement.  I think that sort of timeline is a goal but it may take longer for a fully professional 2nd div.

We need to set the bar as low as possible not as high as possible...

Why on earth would we set the bar as low as possible?  Surely we need to be working towards having the clubs professional as soon as possible and that takes serious cash.

?

Low bar means players can be paid national award wage. Not some made up amount PFA thinks, that includes women's teams.

A club will cost what it costs to be professional. We shouldn't make up high numbers and exclude potential professional teams.