History for Marto

the ACFC prize money does invite a debate about the ASBP and the future.

If you look at the NZF strategy in Beyond Football one of the aims is to increase the engagement and awareness of football in NZ. This should enhance the brand awareness and value so that more lucrative sponsorships are obtained.  The avenues for doing this are creating more profile and home matches for the All Whites, a second A League team, and a competitive and watched domestic competition (keeping it semi pro).

There is an argument that NZF should be working with ACFC to apply the prize money as seed funding for an A League team - it's always easier getting sponsorship if there is seed funding in place. Also, given NZF and other clubs prize money was a windfall it should be applied to improving the league through televising or streaming it not just invested in the same old things. They need to show the games and a magazine show that includes interviews with players in the ASB P, behind the scenes footage and also regular interviews and footage of the overseas players plying their trade overseas. This will enhance the average viewer engagement with the local league and also the All  Whites - as your average football follower doesn't waste their life on our forum. 

Mike Cockerills article also highlighted the role that the Oceania Confederation can play in this. I am not across their constitution but if able NZF and ACFC could work with OFC to secure funding for an A League license. OFC are also working on streaming matches etc and investing in the kit to do so.

So I think if  NZF and other stakeholders have the  balls to really execute Beyond Football and show it's more than words then conversations and, more importantly, commitments need to be made. Forget setting up one off matches between ACFC and the nix, the real way to gain momentum is to get Andy MartinGareth Morgan, Ivan V and the OFC round a table and put a plan in place.