National second division is kicking off with or without FFA

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• Michael Cockerill

4 hrs ago

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Melbourne Victory smash Glory

A second division is off and running, whether Football Federation Australia likes it or not. Semi-pro clubs from across the country are about to gather in Melbourne to kick-start a process which could well see a nationwide competition established in 2018. Good for them.Tired of waiting for an outstretched arm from the FFA, the more ambitious semi-pro clubs are taking matters into their own hands. It was always going to happen in a vacuum of leadership and strategy. The only question was when. So now the ball's rolling, it's going to be impossible to stop.AdvertisementThe smart move from Whitlam Square would be to allow events to run their course. The worst move would be to try and crush the spirit of adventure. Truth is, the FFA has very little interest in doing the heavy lifting to create a nationwide second tier. It reckons it has got far more important issues on its plate. So why not let others do it for it?There's no shortage of takers. What the arrival of the FFA Cup three years ago has done is revitalise this level of the game. But a knockout competition – by definition – can never really satisfy the desire for opportunity, or status. That comes with a competition which last for months, not 90 minutes. So having tasted the lights, camera, action of the splendid FFA Cup, there's a hunger for much more.

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Last week the first step was taken with the formation of an association to represent every state and territory in the National Premier Leagues system. That's 128 clubs. Only Victorian clubs attended the first meeting. But at the forthcoming gathering, clubs are flying into Melbourne from around the nation.Among those on the interstate roll-call are Sydney United, Edgeworth Eagles, South Hobart, Perth SC, Hobart Zebras, West Adelaide, Canberra FC, Adelaide City, Sunshine Coast Fire, Marconi Stallions, Brisbane Strikers and APIA-Leichhardt. By the time you read this, there could well be plenty more. What's not in doubt is the huge level of enthusiasm to create a competition underneath the A-League. If we're talking about, say, a 14-team competition the hard part won't be finding enough clubs to participate, it will be who gets left out.

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On that score, it's critical the lessons of the NSL are learnt. Why the NSL? Because many of the clubs who are prime movers in the push for a second division are survivors from that era. The NSL foundered not because of its concept, but because of its management. It was never independent of its clubs, so it was never free of vested interests. A second division will only flourish if it is formed, and then run, by an independent administration. That's the key.But flourish it can. The FFA will scoff and patronise those who are pursuing the dream, suggesting if the A-League can't make ends meet, how on earth can a second-tier league sustain itself in the most competitive, and hostile, sporting marketplace on earth. I'll tell you why. Because a second division will unlock the vast capital which underlies the biggest participation sport in the country. Investors will spend if they see a reason to spend. The FFA can't give them that reason, so it doesn't know where the money's hiding. But it's there.In the current mood, a second division is inevitable. There's an acceptance that promotion and relegation with the A-League can wait. But a second tier can't. So 2018 is the target.The NPL clubs want it, the state federations want it, and the players' union, the PFA, is already modelling it. The NPL clubs want it for opportunity. The state federations want it for relevance. The PFA want it for development. They are all reasonable, healthy, objectives. There needs to be a level above the state-based NPL competitions to tap into commercial and broadcasting revenue, and to give players and coaches a crucial step on the pathway.Australia is one of only a handful of countries in the world without a second tier. Football is arguably the only sport in Australia with the capacity to have a professional second tier. Everyone can see it, but the FFA won't do anything about it. So others are taking matters into their own hands. Can you blame them?

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/national-second-division-is-kicking-off-with-or-without-ffa-20170311-guw6lx.html

He he he he ehehehehxhshahajsns

Good!

Brilliant. 

Will this League apply for licensing by the FFA?

This article is also running today. 

http://m.goal.com/s/en-au/news/4021/a-league/2017/03/11/33519622/afc-tracking-npl-clubs-progress-with-ffa?utm_content=buffercf66d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FCsUy3vwZ6u

Excellent. The FFA will have to grant it a licence or explain to FIFA (with very good reasons) why not

They must get in bed with the HAL clubs, and visa-versa, unity is needed to force the FFAs hand

The state Feds have a majority of votes on the FFA board. So if they support it, the FFA will have too as well.

Good stuff. FFA inaction caused all this.

They had the mandate to take the initiative years ago and did nothing. Now face a revolt from the HAL clubs and below. 

Sounds good

Oh that's the best news I've heard all weekend! Thank you! 

Also check out this article:

http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4039/state-leagues-and-more/2017/03/07/33379022/npl-clubs-target-ffa-voting-rights?ICID=AR

Goal understands the proposed NPL clubs' representative body, which has over 50 members, has been contacted by the AFC this week.
NPL clubs target FFA voting rights

A source has claimed the AFC has also informed FIFA of the NPL clubs' action this week.

Representatives from NPL clubs all over Australia are planning to travel to Melbourne on March 20 when the proposed representative body will be formally established.

FFA is also understood to have made contact with the group this week as it comes under increasing pressure to meet FIFA's deadline of March 31 to expand its congress, which has the smallest number of voters (10) of any national association.

The national governing body's move to expand its congress - which elects FFA's board - was forced after representatives of FIFA and the AFC visited Australia last year.

On Thursday, Goal reported 30 per cent of the 125 NPL clubs around Australia had committed to joining the representative body and that has increased to 42 per cent by Saturday.

Also, over 40 NPL teams have signed up to this already! The other bit of great news is that this action by NPL Clubs, seems to be backed by FIFA and the AFC. Looks like the FFA are in deep trouble now. :)

This would be a great outcome for everyone involved, including the FFA.  

They let the NPL clubs have their second tier and don't have to put any money into it.

Well if that's the case, then any money the NPL Teams make from merchandise, sponsors, and future TV Rights will be their's to keep. 

Which is the way it should be - part of the reason the A-League clubs are so financially poor is that they're not allowed to fully commercialise their own IP, simply because they don't own it!

Amen.Keep it separated. Keen for this to be established.

Sensational news

National premier leagues in Victoria, making Football in Australia great again....

Out comes the bait. We know how to run a league.

I agree with that. 

The A league clubs are just empty shells unfortunately. 

Think of them as workers working their arses off in Big W. They get the same wage no matter how hard or sloppy they work. At the end of the day the FFA reaps all the rewards.

"What the arrival of the FFA Cup three years ago has done is revitalise this level of the game. "

lol I finally understand what #3yearstops means

@ mouflonrouge

So is a McDonalds restaurant just an "empty shell" then and not a real restaurant?

I think you'll find the supporters who have wedded themselves in great numbers to the ten HAL clubs will disagree with that statement.

The franchisor/franchisee model the HAL was set up under should not be repeated but just because they dont own the logo, the name etc and instead lease it does not make the clubs empty shells. Their competition raises $80m each year - that's the biggest financial return football has ever made in this country,

mcdonalds is a canteen.

I don't chuck out my rubbish at restaurants.

:P

good news, no reason why we cant have a second division without direct promotion/relegation for the meantime. it will help push the case further. scenes reminiscent to the mls and their successful nasl and usl as successful breeding grounds for future top flight clubs

If they can get a sponsor for it, it would make it huge, I hope they are talking to some chinese business men.

it also means the supporters or members don't own a club. That's the underlying issue. they are just supporting a strip.

Sure some supporters have wedded themselves. others are bored and some others won't even touch it.

When there is no direction, future expansion, or a pathway, then basically we are on a slow death march. 

So Manchester United are an empty shell because the supporters don't own it? And all the other EPL clubs??

And the Socceroos are an empty shell because we don't own it?

And the Wallabies are empty shells .,,

It's just bizare how football fans can find a reason to hate their own code, it's no wonder the game struggles in this country:

- Some HAL supporters criticise NPL for being ethnic clubs

- Some NPL supporters criticise the franchise system and use terms like "empty shells"

- EuroSnobs hate them both because they're not European

Maybe football fans get what we deserve?

should be good. Question would you guys rather this on FTA or fox?