I don't know if Chris is suggesting the public ownership is BETTER, but it's certainly my opinion that the game would be far better off if we allowed different models. Why does it have to be entirely private ownership for different franchises?

If private ownership works for one, then let them go with it. If public would be better for another - great. If another form was available and could work for another - all the better. It seems to be a blinkered idea to say that it can only be this, and nothing else.



What's funny is - if those of you who don't like it, and want it closed, simply ignored it, it would be about 10 pages and pretty much forgotten by now.

Actually it's a pseudonym for the AFL

JAK

A PUBLIC MODEL is when a club is controlled by its members and the members are the principal shareholders of the club

The members spend the money to purchase a membership and also get voting rights

There is an election process and the club holds an AGM every year

Lets say you have a Turkish background and purchase a membership at smfc for $160 - you get an equal vote to any other smfc member regardless of background or ethnic origin and that is what a true community club is

In the HAL with its private franchise system - and even though these teams ( not clubs) use the word member - the reality is you are just a customer and the only rights you have is entry to games

You have no say in the running of the club nor it's direction

Rust and company would like readers to believe smfc is a mono ethnic club
The fact that smfc is a not for profit member based public model is a contradiction to Rust's position
Add also that if south ever made tier 1 national football - we would get fans from all walks of life due to the exposure this would provide - smfc has an origin and it cannot be changed but to say that it will not progress is stupid at all levels

From National Soccer League to the A-League

Soccer started in Australia in the mid 19th century and had as much chance of becoming the dominant code as any of the other football codes. For reasons not easily explained, it never took off as a spectator sport.

After World War II, soccer had a revival on the back of a massive immigration intake from mainland Europe. In 1977, migrants established the National Soccer League to remind them of their home countries. Although the league was Australia's first national sporting competition, racism ultimately led to its failure. Instead of the clubs being named after ideals that all Australians could identify with, they were named after European concepts such as "Sydney Croatia" and "Marconi” that excluded others and led to racial conflicts.

Aside from alienating mainstream Australia, the racial identities also made it very difficult for soccer's administration to co-operate as a unit. Board meetings were characterised by racist comments, support for own ethnic groups, and threats of violence. In the absence of productive decision-making, soccer went bankrupt.

So I'm a freak show yet you're the one making delusional comments about some mid table premier league Greek Gyro club from Victoria who have a history of ethnic violence and getting their supporters locked out from games moving to the aleague soon as if their the god gift.

By Jesse Hogan
April 18, 2005 - 3:24PM

Police are furious after ethnic-based soccer violence flared again last night during a Victorian Premier League soccer clash between South Melbourne and Preston Lions at Bob Jane Stadium.

Four officers received minor injuries in the melee.

One person was arrested for assaulting an officer, with police studying video footage to try and make more arrests.

Even before play began, 9000 supporters of South Melbourne - which has a mainly Greek fan base - and the predominantly Macedonian Preston Lions were segregated at opposite ends of the stadium, separated by water-filled barriers.

Forty-five police and 40 security staff confiscated inflammatory banners and amid chanting and rising tension, delaying kick-off by 15 minutes.

A goal from ex-South Melbourne player Steve Manceski was enough for Preston to claim victory against its higher-rated opponent, but the result triggered violence in the stands.

At least a dozen flares were thrown onto the pitch after the match, while about 100 supporters of both clubs invaded the pitch after breaking down a fence.

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The rival supporters also threw coins and darts at each other.

Mounted police were used to disperse the crowd.

One supporter threw a wheelie bin at a police horse.

Acting Superintendent Chris Duthie, who was working at the match, said the behaviour of some fans was "very disappointing".

"The police could do little else than try and control the crowd," he said. "If we had have gone in and made numerous arrests we would have lost our personnel," he said.

"If it hadn't have been for the police horses, I think we would have lost the day."

A match between South Melbourne and Melbourne Knights in the now-defunct National Soccer League in February last year was also marred by crowd violence.

Supporters, most of whom supported the Knights, ripped up chairs at Bob Jane Stadium and marched down Clarendon Street in droves after the match, damaging many shops along the way.

South Melbourne president George Donikian said it was likely future matches between the two clubs - which had not faced each other in 12 years - would be played away from fans.

Acting Superintendent Duthie said extra officers were rostered on as violence was expected. He said he had met representatives of both clubs before the match but was unhappy with the result.

"I wasn't satisfied with the fact that there was no guarantees they could control the behaviour of their own fans."

He also dismissed suggestions they were unprepared for the violence, saying security officers had been checking patrons' bags while police had been using metal detectors as well.

"If you have 200 people that want to riot, it's difficult to have any number of police or security in order to overcome it."

Acting Superintendent Duthie will be meeting further with the clubs this week to determine how their will minimise violence in future fixtures between the two clubs. He forecast an alcohol ban at Bob Jane Stadium.

"There probably won't be (alcohol available) in the future, because I'm also the licensing inspector for that area."

He also said arrangements would have to be made to ensure rival supporters were not using the same toilets, as happened yesterday.

The clubs face fines of up to $10,000 over the flare-throwing.

Officials from Football Federation Victoria, which runs the Victorian Premier League, will meet to decide on punishment for the clubs.

Victorian Soccer Federation chief Tony Pignata told ABC radio the two clubs could be banned from competition.

www.theage.com.au › Sport › Soccer

I certainly think that giving the members more say (in an official capacity) in the running of the club is a step forward.

How would it work though? Do you have a mix of private investment and community investment? For example, would it be something like 500 members each owning an equal share of a 20% stake in the club? So if an A-League bid needs $5 million start-up capital (correct me if I'm wrong), then each "community investor" would need $2,000. Therefore those group of investors would be represented by one seat on the board.

Is it something like this?

How long's this thread going to keep going for?

How long's this thread going to keep going for?

JAK; members would own 100% of the club - not 20% as you suggested - the way public models work are that different levels of investment provides different levels of comfort and exposure

For example - major sponsors would enjoy the benefits of brand awareness and the comfort of having the best rooms - fully catered and best seats available to them for their staff

Then you have your memberships from an elite level to a common game day level

However all members would have equal voting rights at the AGM

That is what is so compelling about the public community model

smfc has corporate and sponsorship packages and also community and membership packages

There is a full suite of options - depending on what appeals to the market

The club has self generated new channels on various platforms to house all levels of interest at the club - from passive to active and has created additional platforms via the development of the smfc media machine and social networks

smfc is at the forefront of generating revenue streams with a view to expand the family and grow our brand

"Family" is exactly what a public model is - everyone has a say

In regards to the public model and it's essence - I can only speak about myself - I have never felt intimated at the AGM or at the social club for expressing my views - at the end of the day the majority rules

Member run clubs are the essence of the AFL - they are Ll trademark compliant - yet free to express themselves Nd develop their identity as are its members

It is the best model in the world and the club is the analogy of those that support it - the members are the key stakeholders

Clubs being shaped by the community - a true and transparent attachment from the community and for the community

The beautiful thing about the public model is that it gives me a public identity via a club where otherwise people like me would not have one - it allows me to collaborate with a diverse section of the community - not just ethnic origin and location - but also social status and my club provides us all a vehicle to achieve a common goal - not as passengers - but as part of a family


Edited by chris: 23/1/2013 05:36:26 PM

It all sounds good Chris, but don't you think it will be hard to raise the $4-5 million from the general public to qualify for A-League admission (assuming they allowed such a model)? Where would you find all these people and small businesses? How will you find them? What is your target market? I am genuinely curious.

I'm not saying it can't be done and you could of course improve your cost structure to offset any revenue shortfall, but surely it would be easier to have a mixed model of funding without sacrificing the democratic institutions and social fabric of the club?

I am sick to fkn death of AFL cheerleaders coming into football discussions and telling us how to run our game. If AFL is so bloody awesome, how come its only played seriously in the SE of 1 country (&WA)? ](*,) ](*,)

The current A-League model is fine. It took the game from the semi-pro era of the NSL to the fully pro era of now and bagged a record(for our game) broadcast deal. Domestic Football has never been in a better position. Can the AFL say the same? No. IMO their high water mark for the key KPIs was 1996, the total pie has been slowly but surely shrinking since then as they chase quixotic dreams with Gold Coast and GWS. The AFL didnýt just pop inyto existence, it metamorphosed from the bankrupt VFL, killing vibrant state leagues like the Borg in Star Trek(Resistance is futile!) in its desire to pillage and suck money into itself to prop its bankrupt clubs/system up. It took ARF 100 years to find a model that was sustainable. It has taken football 8 years. Now that the salary cap is covered, there is no reason for any well run HAL club to operate in the red. The money coming in finally covers expenditure. That is the essence of a stable platform for growth. Having a shower and then putting your dirty jocks back on is not the way forward. Stay the course...we are achieving what we set out to accomplish.Slowly but surely great strides are being made. Take a look around and compare with 15 years ago.

I am sick to fkn death of AFL cheerleaders coming into football discussions and telling us how to run our game. If AFL is so bloody awesome, how come its only played seriously in the SE of 1 country (&WA)? ](*,) ](*,)

The current A-League model is fine. It took the game from the semi-pro era of the NSL to the fully pro era of now and bagged a record(for our game) broadcast deal. Domestic Football has never been in a better position. Can the AFL say the same? No. IMO their high water mark for the key KPIs was 1996, the total pie has been slowly but surely shrinking since then as they chase quixotic dreams with Gold Coast and GWS. The AFL didnýt just pop inyto existence, it metamorphosed from the bankrupt VFL, killing vibrant state leagues like the Borg in Star Trek(Resistance is futile!) in its desire to pillage and suck money into itself to prop its bankrupt clubs/system up. It took ARF 100 years to find a model that was sustainable. It has taken football 8 years. Now that the salary cap is covered, there is no reason for any well run HAL club to operate in the red. The money coming in finally covers expenditure. That is the essence of a stable platform for growth. Having a shower and then putting your dirty jocks back on is not the way forward. Stay the course...we are achieving what we set out to accomplish.Slowly but surely great strides are being made. Take a look around and compare with 15 years ago.

Pre Perth Glory and Adelaide Utd - smfc was the beacon of light in a miserable comp called the NSL - when these 2 great teams came about - smfc still managed to stay toe to toe with them

Can't see what's so broken about the "private model", every great soccer club Australia has produced has operated like this; WSW, CCM, Victory, Brisbane, Sydney FC need I go on? In fact the only clubs EVER to break 10k average in a season have all operated as franchises, and Newcastle, Perth and Adelaide were the the only ones to do it in the NSL.

FACT: Not a single "publically owned" Australian football club has EVER averaged more than 10k in a season. That includes South.

People don't a fuck about their voting rights and firing questions at the CEO, they care about their team winning and being entertained.

Rust thats not entirely true, the year knights played perth glory in that semi they played a 1 off game at etihad stadium with Sth Melb and 26,680 spectators came. And it wasnt a final it was a normal fixture.:oops:

Smirk

Elimination Final, loser eliminated, winner into Minor Semi-Final
Perth Glory 2 - 2 Melbourne Knights
2nd leg Played (12/05/2001) Subiaco Oval
Crowd : 31710

Preliminary Final, loser eliminated, winner into Grand Final
South Melbourne 2 - 0 Sydney Olympic
Played (27/05/2001) Olympic Park
Crowd : 6664

I didn't realize that trolling was this easy . I am sure that South Melb will make an good 3rd team for Victoria , not sure why all the hate ,am not a South supporter , but if they get all the stuff required to join the A-League, then why not. NSW has 4 teams ,i think that Vic can handle 3 teams.

I didn't realize that trolling was this easy . I am sure that South Melb will make an good 3rd team for Victoria , not sure why all the hate ,am not a South supporter , but if they get all the stuff required to join the A-League, then why not. NSW has 4 teams ,i think that Vic can handle 3 teams.

I wouldnt bag the AFL id love us to have their tv deal, we can only dream of getting that amount.
As for the VFL going broke your kidding right!!!
Other states were crying that they were getting left out so they started the national comp the AFL in 1984.
The AFL dont have us to worry about, but NRL better watch there backs tho.:lol: :lol:

Rust thats not entirely true, the year knights played perth glory in that semi they played a 1 off game at etihad stadium with Sth Melb and 26,680 spectators came. And it wasnt a final it was a normal fixture.:oops:

beacon of light?? you must be on drugs. If they were such a beacon of light, then why when the HAL was launched was the aim to create 8-10 Perth Glories? instead of 8-10 Hellas's? because the mono-ethnic model that had existed since 1977 had failed. It was the millstone around the neck of the game and that's why cutting that millstone loose was the catalyst for the success we are enjoying now. And delusionals want that stone back around the game's neck. Crazy talk. jog on now.

Edited by vanbasten88: 23/1/2013 10:50:02 PM

Here's the result of the model South Melbourne Hellas and other mono ethnic clubs feel comfortable with.................




www.convictcreations.com/football/battlesoccer.html

Edited by paulc: 23/1/2013 09:08:23 AM

Interest note to attach to this article...

Football started in the mid 19th century but never caught on...

A century later, immigrants came along and set up clubs, which have lasted 50 years...

Yet strangely, despite 100 years of inactivity BEFORE the ethnics arrived, it's the ethnics who are blamed for the game not taking off.

Curiouser and curiouser.

If you want to twist and distort the facts in order to get that statement I guess that is one way you can look at it:?