I think FFA should be bold and outline a 25 year plan for a fully functional league pyramid from top to bottom.

I know this might not be feasible right away, but I think it can definitely be feasible in the next 10-25 years if we set the correct targets.

• 16 Team A-League

— 30 rounds H/A

— Top 6 Finals series

— 1 Automatic Relegation spot

— 1 Relegation Playoff spot with Second Division

— No Salary Cap, But Setting Minimum wage multiplied led by total squad d size as a salary floor. Could even have a Salary cap where teams can only spend max 2-3x the TV deal similar to the concept being floated around for premier league in England.


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• 16 Team Second Division.

— 30 rounds H/A

— 1st Automatic Promotion

— 2nd - 5th Promotion Playoff with 15th in A-League

— 15th & 16th in Relegation Playoff with NPL champions league Finalists

— Minimum wage is salary floor multiplied by squad numbers.


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• NPL Champions League

— 1st Place from each NPL Conference + the winners of 2nd - 5th Finals series in each individual state Conference

— Two Finalists qualify for Promotion Playoff with 15th & 16th in Second Division


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• NPL

— 14-16 teams in each NPL Conference

— Winners Qualify for NPL champions League at end of season

— 2nd - 5th in each conference play off for the final NPL champions league spot for each Conference

— Relegation/Promotion with existing state leagues



We could start Pro-Rel from the second division and NPL within the first 5 seasons imo, but to have Pro-Rel between the A-League and Second Division needs to be a 10-25 year goal at the very minimum.

I know a lot of people will say “well what if Perth or Adelaide get relegated? Well tough luck. Those markets can play in second division and work on building teams and clubs strong enough to stay in the top flight.

Regarding TV deals and markets being affected if Perth or Adelaide go down. Those viewers would just be watching the second division with their team participating in that league and hoping they get promoted again.

Clubs should not just be gifted first tier immunity just because of where they are located, the first division should be for the best teams and best run clubs doesn’t matter where they are located. In order for our league to be the best possible league in our country, we need the league to have elite status where every game, every season means something. It will instill a mindset in Australian players who have constant promotion / relegation pressure with every game this will lift the intensity and standard of our game, preparing our youth for big matches, and it gives every single club in the country from the top down something to aspire and aim for. You’ll see state based clubs investing in facilities, academies, infrastructure in order to aim for the top flight, which will in turn help our game grow as a whole. Right now hundred of clubs around the country are not incentivised to grow or invest in the game because no matter how much they invest or how bold they dare to dream, they will never be able to move up the pyramid to the top.

The closed shop system does nothing but hinder growth, hinder investment from the bottom up, and hinder aspirations of the majority of clubs and players across the country.