A-League club owners have begun a “first 100 days” blitz to revolutionise the way the competition is marketed and run, with widespread investment promised to combat sliding ratings and attendances.After years spent wresting control of their own competition from Football Federation Australia, owners revealed plans to hitting the ground running with transfers between clubs, prize money for successful teams, a 16-team expansion plan and — most immediately — a digital-led campaign to drive awareness among sports fans.The plans were presented to CEOs, coaches and staff of the clubs at a two-day summit in Double Bay.Officials described the owners’ presentation as “evangelical” in underlining the urgent need to combat the sense of inertia that has gripped the competition for the past two seasons.

The 100 days appears to spring from the August 1 date that the clubs effectively began running the league through to the early rounds of the new season, with promises from the owners of immediate spending on higher quality digital engagement, and mimicking ticketing strategies used in other codes successfully via social media campaigns.Club officials said the presentation, led by Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow and Melbourne City vice chairman Simon Pearce, plotted a pathway into the future to include a 16-team competition via a regionally targeted expansion plan and an international “roadshow” seeking fresh investment.The competition has had 10 teams since 2012 but welcomes an 11th club, Western United, this coming season, with Macarthur United joining the season after.

All footballing elements of the A-League are up for discussion in the new model, the owners said, with the salary cap under review and consideration of prize money being awarded based on performance.The minor premiers would get a share of that, while a season opener inspired by England’s Community Shield would pit the minor premiers against the champions. A “sinking fund” would be established to support clubs struggling financially.Much of the presentation compared the A-League with leagues overseas in benchmarks from attendances to squad value, with the owners making clear they expect their plans to quickly reverse Australia’s decline compared with other countries.

The new strategy was presented as a reboot of the competition, with coaches and football staff told that the league will try to innovate with both its broadcast access and its rules, aiming to be a competition that allows FIFA to trial initiatives — as it did with VAR.Under the agreement reached in June between the clubs and the member federations that run the game at grassroots level, the clubs will pay a percentage of their broadcast revenue to FFA each year to be allowed to run their own competition, though not for the first four seasons.Much of the blueprint echoes the establishment of the English Premier League, including the competition’s referees being spun off into a separate body independent of the clubs and FFA.

https://thewest.com.au/sport/soccer/a-league-club-owners-launch-100-days-blueprint-to-kickstart-competitions-renewal-ng-fcc159fd8c3a0e41b42b4ddf7efd8962

Interesting points:
- Transfers between clubs
- Prize money
- 16 team A-league road-map (focusing on "regional" areas and attaining international investment)
- Salary cap under review

A round of applause for the neuvo new dawn.

I like the first 3 things.

I think the cap has to stay if regional expansion is to be successful though. Hopefully the clubs still get an equal share of the TV deal too.

"The minor premiers would get a share of that, while a season opener inspired by England’s Community Shield would pit the minor premiers against the champions. A “sinking fund” would be established to support clubs struggling financially."

I like these ideas too.

Auckland club would bring this

What a LOLathon...another meaningless pre-season game between the same teams that no one will care about, guinea pig league for more fifa trials like VAR, "sinking fund" for teams that are sinking, spectre of foreign teams etc

And where's pro-rel again?

I thought Wellington was an Aussie club ;)

Sounds good but now they must deliver.

I like it all but wouldnt the "community shield" make more sense with the FFA cup winner?

The regional focus sounds more like clubs looking to protect their markets than anything else.

Canberra, Wollongong, Tasmania and a regional Qld city are about all that are on the table outside existing markets.

"...a regionally targeted expansion plan and an international “roadshow” seeking fresh investment." 

Are you really sure they are just talking about regional Australia?

More positive than anything I’ve heard in the last 2-3 years.
Dare to dream

I dont mind what they are suggesting so far. To tell you the truth I am not sure the point of a sinking fund. I dont mind the fact that they are doing a roadshow but in all honesty they should be targeting that for future clubs into expansion into the 2nd tier. They should do that with the clear objective of setting a clear date on when pro/rel might occur. Once Investors know an end date and the potential for pro/rel you will get a lot more interest. So far so good. Its starting to look like football. 


Edit - The only think about trial periods is that the VAR has been an absolute wank. The truth is that in the trial most fans hated it and they still hate it. This is despite the fans calling for it to be abolished, but here were are. We still have this abomination. 

”its funny because it’s true”

Yeah if only Steven.Lowy was running things again... 

That international roadshow line makes me real nervous. 

I like all this. They seem to be saying the right things. Now with more control let’s see if good will come of it, I like the idea of the community shield but agree with above poster saying it should be with the FFA winner. Main things for me is transfers between clubs and salary cap gone. 
I wont get into it because we’ve all been over it a thousand times but yea, good signs 

Mate, so true! Finally a poster with some common sense! Everything you say is always so spot on. I just love everything you say.  
Am I right in saying this one is a face in the slap for the dawner nuvos?

Whoever used the expression "minor premiers" doesn't know what they are talking about.

Most likely that’s seeking international investment in to the league, Private Equity investment, not investment into clubs. 

Thryvd only got 4 licences left - they’ll have no problem selling those to on-shore based clubs. 

"...they'll have no problems selling those to on-shore clubs based" in the right geographic areas.

Yeah. Pretty clear they’re targeting regional 

With the regional emphasise sounds like Tassie & Canberra and maybe the Gong could be in the running for a licence  

But who’s McArthur United ? Wasn’t it FC ? 

Macarthur FC - Bulls.

“plotted a pathway into the future to include a 16-team competition via a regionally targeted expansion plan and an international “roadshow” seeking fresh investment.”

Reads like-
“plotted a pathway into the future to include a 16-team competition via a regionally targeted expansion plan (which is our region SEAsia AFF) and an international “roadshow” seeking fresh investment. (To have a bidding war to see which Asian city will pay the most for a license)”

nah, last i read only 9/10 owners supported the idea of asean teams...

So would Indonesia and Singapore clubs given Sage and friends feelings on the matter 
 Footballkings and Knights can fuck themselves 

BALI BOMBERS FC vs MANILA FOLDERS Vs LIONS XII MK2

A pat on the back for the nouvo new dawn.

None of these ideas are new, its just refreshing coming from the administrators.

I am concerned about 'regional expansion' meaning south east Asia. I hope I am wrong about that.