rumours on twitter from npl central is that melbourne knights have withdrawn, balking at the 50k fee for just submitting a proposal with vague instructions.

Anyone have more info on this?

Sinking the NSD after the womens world cup would compete with the gf announcement after the mens world cup

No reputable sources for this. The source is some guy who has his head screwed so loose that he thinks the FA announcement same day a few hours later was somehow all about him.

Btw, same Mark Ivkovic? Quits Melbourne Knights one year, now rumour mongering about them the next? 

https://www.melbourneknights.com.au/news/knights-part-ways-with-senior-football-staff/

Probably baulking at the cost structures outlined by FA. 

NSD application process was an exercise designed to fail. 

FFA official statement: "The NSD is going ahead in 2024, but any clubs who want to pull out are free to do so" https://twitter.com/FootballAUS/status/1684452407533772800

Currently very vague details given to the clubs and the FA are refusing to elaborate or answer any questions but have enforced a non refundable $500,000 fee to be paid per club per proposal submission by next week. 

Not sure how true it is regarding Melbourne Knights pulling out, but If that's the case, I'd expect others to follow suit 

If the clubs cant afford the costs then there is no way this thing is viable. (And I want the NSD to work)

Easy to deflect the blame to someone else of course.

I wonder if Football Australia has a big sponsor or broadcaster lined up to cover the large costs?

If a non-refundable 1/2 million dollar fee is indeed asked for then the clubs are very right to withdraw their submissions... FA are pretty adamant in their statement 10-16 club home and away season will start in 2024  so the promising thing, for me, is that at least nobody is talking about a "champions league format" anymore.... 

I have heard that three clubs from Melbourne have already submitted their bids..... dont know anything about what Knights are doing but I hope they dont withdraw from the race.... 

I'd be be very very surprised if the FA are asking for that kind of 'non-refundable' money just to apply. There would certainly be a bond fee like there was with the EOI, however that would be by definition refundable. There was rumour of the annual license fee being $500k. It's possible the FA have asked for s $500k bond which is then used as the license fee for the successful applicants and refunded to the unsuccessful applicants. It could be a way for the FA to quickly weed out the less viable applicants. 

That is what o heard. 
Annual licence fee will cost a minimum 500k. 

Dont think it is for a non refundable submission fee. 


That's ludicrous. Even from the FA

Basically yeah. The notion that 40 clubs would pay that for the benefit of 10-16 doesn't pass the BS test by a fair way. People making up shit don't seem to know how lazy it looks that they can't even see that is $20 million. How dumb would you need to be? 

It'll be a bond to be paid by successful applicants to be used as the pooled reserve to underwrite the league. You buy in, you participate, you're protected. If you're not good for 500k, you're not up to making that step up. It's what the EOI process is supposed to accomplish - weed out the tyre kickers.

I see zero evidence that MK aren't applying, other than an ex employee on twitter with 200 followers making some noise in an information vacuum created by a confidential process.

ok this is good news.

A refundable fee of 500k is a good idea actually

Its pretty much how I read the "tea leaves" too mate... I can imagine some "grumlbing" going on at clubland about a 500K annual license fee but not for a "once off" which was pretty much speculated on way back when this whole process all began... Im sure Ill hear some more "facts" on the weekend.

If its an annual license fee, thats bullshit... The Aleague franchises paid less than that and they are guaranteed no relegation from the first tier..... 

That is what I am hearing. 
Those funds will be used to "run the league". 

No delays is what I am hearing... announcement coming in the next few weeks... watch this space :)

Interesting

it would be damming for the game if it didn't get the green light going from next season.
Thankfully it does seem so but we wait and wait...............

I'm hearing that clubs will be able to field an U23s team in the NPL similar to what the A-league clubs do with their U21s team. Before this rumour, we were told these clubs would not be allowed to field senior teams in the NPL. 

The way we are going soon every club will have a second senior team!!!!

If it transpires, then this what happens when you release the genie, as with the A-League franchises having second senior teams.

This is what happens when you don't stick to better Global standards such as a domestic transfer system.
Most AL NPL players should have been released, transferred or loaned out after finishing at U18 or U21 level.

Good news re U23's, hope this pans out ! as it should.

Im sort of the opposite opinion mate... NPL clubs already have U21s..... U23s players should already be in the first team or be loaned/sold out by then..... 

I have a feeling this is a compromise to placate the state federations from losing their best clubs from the NPL comps but it makes pro/rel almost an impossibility (or at least very confusing)

Also, maybe just a way to prevent the need for a Y-league which would save the APL some much needed money they are going to need to keep propping up owner-less franchises. 

That was my thought also. Considering what the expected salary cap will be for the NSD, it's pretty safe to assume 95% of the NSD squads will be players under the age of 23.
I was thinking this rumored compromise may also be to accommodate any 'joint' bids who would lose multiple NPL team if they have and NSD team.

Everyone knows the real reason with the Knights ffs lol

According to the way Brisbane United are trying to apply, they get to keep the Strikers NPL team, whilst everyone else loses theirs

Your probably right. 

Not everyone knows... please explain?

Hope this isnt some sort of "effnik" thing again? Especially now that the mainstream media have been cheering on the fact that Australia ethnic diversity has lead to colourful crowds and loud support at the WWC. 

hearing it could well be the champions league they've been discussing for next season.

and what's that? 

FYI, the Knights have not pulled out.

Well, there's effnik diversity, and there's fascism https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/croatian-sporting-clubs-with-fascist-links-promised-millions-in-public-money-20230712-p5dno8.html