Illawarra Football Association salary cap on cards
BY JOEL RITCHIE
13 May, 2010 04:00 AM
The Illawarra Football Association will become the first in NSW to introduce a salary cap, according to one of its board members.
Publicity officer John Walker revealed details of the well-developed plan yesterday and declared he was "99.9 per cent sure" it will be in place for 2012.
Each player would receive between $300-$350 per game, although each club could also sign one marquee player to an unlimited wage.
There would also be exemptions for players who have been with the same team for more than three years.
Walker admitted the push was in response to rumblings from outfits struggling to keep up with cashed-up heavyweights.
"In 2012 we're proposing to introduce a salary cap at all levels," Walker said.
"We have been talking about it for a couple of years, clubs have been asking for it because they want a level playing field,"
"It is fair to say a majority of the Premier League clubs have been asking for it.
"Obviously one or two are against it."
Walker proclaimed the watershed measure would also attract top players to the South Coast Wolves, thus maintaining Football South Coast's pathway from junior to elite football.
"The main reason behind it is because we have unification and we want the best players to go to the South Coast Wolves and it's very hard if local teams are paying as much or more as they are," he said.
"We want good players to serve their apprenticeship locally and graduate to the state leagues or higher."
Walker was adamant the drive wasn't aimed at treble winners Dandaloo.
"No way. It's not targeting any one club, it's just levelling out the playing field," he said.
"You have got some clubs who spend well over $100,000 and clubs that would be lucky to spend $50,000."
The proposal has been sent to all IFA clubs, with the deadline for responses tomorrow.
An IFA subcommittee will examine comments next week, with a decisive vote expected before the end of the present campaign.
Walker conceded restrictions on payments would be hard to enforce.
"It's going to be difficult to police, it's important we have heavy penalties if clubs are caught out," Walker said.
"We have to look into how we are going to police it."
The cap will be introduced in 2012 to allow time to prepare for a step sure to alter the competition's landscape.
"We don't want to see clubs disappear or be forced out because there's too much money involved in putting a team on the field," Walker said.
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/illawarra-football-association-salary-cap-on-cards/1828573.aspx