By Joffa - 21 May 2013 5:33 PM
South Melbourne's ambition hits a wall
Tuesday, 21 May 2013 12:16 PM
It’s a cry from the old neighbourhood, a sign that things are still happening there, even if not everyone’s paying attention. Well, they are now.
South Melbourne’s bid to takeover Melbourne Heart, and reported interest in the Central Coast Mariners, was bold, to say the least. Ill-fated? Probably. Ambitious. Definitely.
The historical divisions between “old” and “new” soccer still exist but South Melbourne’s sheer desire to get into the A-League shows that those distances are growing thinner. The now established A-League is the goal for so many of those clubs that once dominated the old national league.
But as well as concerns over a return to the bad old days, questions remain how old soccer can find a space within new football.
If these clubs have the means – which many A-League clubs still struggle to match – should they be allowed their chance? Can the A-League make room for these traditional clubs? And Would South Melbourne, for all their ambitious, be ready for the next level?
Former South striker Francis Awaritefe says the club have certainly laid the groundwork but has doubts as to how they could fit into the current competition.
“I know they’ve done a lot of work in terms of talent development, putting together a pathway into their first team,” the SBS commentator says.
“They’ve made a lot of progress with new facilities and a new stadium, they’ve got Mehmet Durakovic working as a technical director, he’s a former South great, and Peter Tsolakis (former player, now head coach) – the football side looks really good as does the facilities side.
“But Melbourne has two established clubs and geographically I don’t know how it would work. South Melbourne are just down the road from Victory and Heart.”
This cramped market explains the club’s strategy of buying an existing licence, rather than waiting for the long-mooted notion of promotion and relegation. With many A-League clubs still struggling for consistent crowds and members, dividing the market just isn’t viable.
“We’ve seen that expansion isn’t just about having the money to buy a licence,” Awaritefe says, “you’ve got to be able to engage with the market -but if it’s not big enough how you going to attract the fans?
“Western Sydney has been crying out for a club and the Wanderers have got that all to themselves. But I don’t think you can say the same with Melbourne.
“With the original APL model, Melbourne was going to split into three distinct geographic areas with teams occupying those different regions but it wasn’t done that way in the A-League.”
Meaning those clubs on the outside will always be left looking in, until Australian football is strong enough to sustain promotion or relegation. And who knows when that will be?
As such, it easy to understand South Melbourne’s hunger to take over one of the A-League’s existing licences; it is the only realistic option.
For Awaritefe, only long-term planning and growth for the game as a whole will eventually see those doors open for clubs in the state and National Premier Leagues.
“Long-term, Australian football can’t have a closed shop, there has to be some pathway towards promotion and relegation but at the moment that’s not viable because we don’t have enough strong clubs.
“We have to follow the strategic pathway of Japan where they developed their 100-year plan, part of which was to develop 100 strong clubs, and now, 20-25 years later, the J.League has promotion and relegation.
“You need to strengthen the bottom – the NPL is part of doing that – and develop stronger clubs, which will allow that mobility in creating a second tier. But I don’t see that happening for a while yet.
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/South-Melbournes-ambition-hits-a-wall/67688
Edited by Joffa: 21/5/2013 05:39:47 PM
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By Benjamin - 20 Jun 2013 7:42 PM
Draupnir wrote:SOUTH MELBOURNE FC CLUB STRUCTURE 2013
President
Leo Athanasakis Australian
Chairman
Nick Galatas Australian
Treasurer
Peter Parthimos Australian
Board of Management
Dr George Triantos - Membership, Merchandise, Marketing, and Events Australian
Tony Margaritis - Membership, Merchandise, and General Business Australian
Tom Kalas – National Premier League Implementation Australian
Andrew Mesorouni - Youth Development Australian
Nick Maikousis - Sales Australian
Administration
Peter Kokotis - General Manager Australian
George Kouroumalis - Digital Media & Multimedia Manager, Graphic Designer and Marketing Manager Australian
Frank Piccione - Senior Team Manager Australian
Mehmet Durakovic - Senior Technical Director Australian
Marcello Koslowsky - Youth Technical Director Brazilian
Michael Dimoudis - Web Manager Australian
Cindy Nitsos - Club Photographer Australian
Paul Zarogiannis - Video Production (SMFC TV) Australian
David Henning - SMFC TV & SouthRadio host Australian
John Kyrou - SMFC TV, SouthRadio host, Club Historian Australian
Marissa Tasios - Marketing Assistant Australian
Steven Orchard - Statistician Australian
Tim Dovas - SMFC TV Filming Australian
Paul Mavroudis - Club Historian Australian
Nick Szkilnik Australian
For a club formed in 1959 that purportedly isn't built around a single ethnicity.. They're doing an amazing job. I mean, formed as essentially a Greek club and 50 years later it's almost impossible to find any Greek name within the structure of the club members. Simply said, they are a shining beacon for the cultural diversity of Australia in 2013, and in no way can be associated with Greece.
The irony that I, an Englishman, with no Aussie citizenship, would apparently be more desirable on that list than any of these Aussies is hilarious. But keep on keeping up the good fight.
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