Second Melbourne Team
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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Looks like the FFA could be going for a 4 team expansion at one time in Hal 5.
While Townsville and Gold Coast are set to join the A-League next year for its fifth season, it is reasonable to think a second Melbourne team will be admitted for the 2010-11 season, if not sooner.
FFA research ranks Melbourne second behind western Sydney, and ahead of the Gold Coast and Townsville, as a location most suited for an expansion franchise.
"Melbourne definitely has the capacity to sustain a second team," FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said yesterday.
"We've clearly identified Melbourne as a priority area to expand. The capital is there in Melbourne and the support is there in Melbourne."
One key factor in favour of a second Melbourne team will be the new rectangular stadium, purpose-built for football and rugby league as a home venue for Victory in summer and Melbourne Storm during the winter.
A second team would offer the chance to increase use of the stadium and draw new fans to the A-League while creating the competition's first intra-city rivalry.
While Victory are not publicly in favour of embracing a second Melbourne team, their success on and off the field could have played a strong part in the FFA's desire to have another team in Victoria.
Victory have outstripped every A-League club in attendances and membership, are a popular TV team and have been able to quickly turn a profit. The FFA theory is Victory should treat a second Melbourne team as a rival rather than a threat.
"You may be able to go to (a game in) Melbourne and have 30,000 fans each week," Buckley said. "The assumption that 50 per cent of Melbourne Victory's support would immediately switch allegiances is incorrect. There is a growing appetite for the game and we want to tap it."
FFA has been approached by people wanting to establish a second Melbourne team, but, according to Buckley, there has been no formal application even though the bid is "seen as very advanced in some quarters".
If a second Melbourne team was ready to go before the end of Victory's five-year protection period, FFA would ask for that exemption to be dropped, but the bottom line places the onus firmly on any expansion team, whether it be from Melbourne, Sydney or any other city.
"We can't afford to have a club come in and drag the chain," Buckley said.
"We have to be 100 per cent certain they will come in and not be a burden."
THE A-League has posted a "modest profit" on the 2007-08 financial year, according to Buckley, who has forecast another profit next year.
Meanwhile, Fox Sports has announced it would telecast live the May 30 friendly between Victory and Juventus at Telstra Dome.
Midfielder2008-05-01 12:17:48
How we can find the players ......... then 2 more teams within 3 years after.
As I see it they want the 12 teams so they have two rounds thus 22 games plus finals, and therefore don't have to take on the NRL & AFL, then two rounds with 14 teams is 26 rounds plus finals.
Also interesting in HAL 3, the FFA made a slight profit.
Victory can expect city rivals by 2010-11<!-- author -->
<!--dt><img src="/images/author.jpg" border="0" alt="Greg%20Buckle" /></dt-->
By Grantley Bernard
<!--strong>Former Australian Captain</strong -->May 01, 2008 <!-- // author -->
<!-- // lead story --><!-- story -->
<!--strong>Former Australian Captain</strong -->May 01, 2008 <!-- // author -->
MELBOURNE Victory are on notice they will have an A-League rival in the city sooner rather than later.
While Victory are protected by a five-year deal to be the only A-League team in Melbourne, Football Federation Australia has identified the Victorian capital as a priority location as they look to expand the league from eight to 12 teams.While Townsville and Gold Coast are set to join the A-League next year for its fifth season, it is reasonable to think a second Melbourne team will be admitted for the 2010-11 season, if not sooner.
FFA research ranks Melbourne second behind western Sydney, and ahead of the Gold Coast and Townsville, as a location most suited for an expansion franchise.
"Melbourne definitely has the capacity to sustain a second team," FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said yesterday.
"We've clearly identified Melbourne as a priority area to expand. The capital is there in Melbourne and the support is there in Melbourne."
One key factor in favour of a second Melbourne team will be the new rectangular stadium, purpose-built for football and rugby league as a home venue for Victory in summer and Melbourne Storm during the winter.
A second team would offer the chance to increase use of the stadium and draw new fans to the A-League while creating the competition's first intra-city rivalry.
While Victory are not publicly in favour of embracing a second Melbourne team, their success on and off the field could have played a strong part in the FFA's desire to have another team in Victoria.
Victory have outstripped every A-League club in attendances and membership, are a popular TV team and have been able to quickly turn a profit. The FFA theory is Victory should treat a second Melbourne team as a rival rather than a threat.
"You may be able to go to (a game in) Melbourne and have 30,000 fans each week," Buckley said. "The assumption that 50 per cent of Melbourne Victory's support would immediately switch allegiances is incorrect. There is a growing appetite for the game and we want to tap it."
FFA has been approached by people wanting to establish a second Melbourne team, but, according to Buckley, there has been no formal application even though the bid is "seen as very advanced in some quarters".
If a second Melbourne team was ready to go before the end of Victory's five-year protection period, FFA would ask for that exemption to be dropped, but the bottom line places the onus firmly on any expansion team, whether it be from Melbourne, Sydney or any other city.
"We can't afford to have a club come in and drag the chain," Buckley said.
"We have to be 100 per cent certain they will come in and not be a burden."
THE A-League has posted a "modest profit" on the 2007-08 financial year, according to Buckley, who has forecast another profit next year.
Meanwhile, Fox Sports has announced it would telecast live the May 30 friendly between Victory and Juventus at Telstra Dome.
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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Further to the above the SHM confirmed the 12 team by Hal 5 is the objective
Super-sized A-League may get the jump on AFL in western Sydney
Greg Prichard
May 1, 2008
FOOTBALL Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley has revealed stunning plans for the A-League competition to jump from eight to not just 10 - but 12 teams for the season after next.
"We've got scope for an additional four teams in season five," Buckley said yesterday. "I would be disappointed if we didn't have at least 10 by then. Twelve is more challenging, but I don't rule it out."
Franchises representing Townsville and the Gold Coast, which were set to be admitted for next season before the FFA decided they weren't ready, remain at the front of the line for admission in the 2009-10 season.
Beyond that, Buckley said he was encouraged by interest from potential backers of second teams from Sydney and Melbourne. If the money is real, it is clear the FFA wants to expand the league sooner rather than later.
The AFL plans to establish new teams on the Gold Coast and possibly western Sydney from 2011.
"We've had approaches from Melbourne and western Sydney," Buckley said. "We haven't had formal discussions with the Melbourne people, but there is advanced thinking from some quarters. Melbourne, as a city, definitely has the ability to sustain a second team.
"As far as western Sydney is concerned, we have meetings with groups coming up in the next month or so. We'll find out where things are at with them then."
A potential hurdle to teams from Melbourne and Sydney being admitted for season five is the exclusivity agreement Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory have for the first five years of the A-League. But the FFA boss felt there was enough support for expansion for that problem to be overcome.
"It would require a willingness from those two clubs," Buckley said. "But if we felt new consortiums from those two cities were ready for season five, we would have that conversation with the clubs. We've spoken to all the clubs about expansion, and there is a very big appetite for it across the board. They can see the benefits."
The fact that, after five years, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory would not be able to stop the introduction of new teams in their cities may persuade them to agree to the inevitable a year earlier. Sources suggest any opposition would be more likely to come from Melbourne.
Buckley said he didn't think the argument that there would not be enough quality players to fill four new clubs in one year was justified.
Even if the A-League increased only to 10 teams in season five, the aim would be to get it to 12 as soon as possible after that. The desired end figure is 14, with Wollongong and Canberra slated as preferred areas for expansion. But sources say Wollongong could be fast-tracked if necessary.
The one concern for the FFA among existing A-League clubs is struggling Perth Glory. But there are no plans to get rid of Perth, with Buckley saying the franchise was critically important to the competition and that the FFA was doing all it could to help the club's owners find ways to improve its situation.
It was a day of revelations from Buckley, who said the FFA had made a submission to the appeals committee about Central Coast and Olyroos goalkeeper Danny Vukovic's case.
"We said we didn't believe that 'cherry-picking' the penalty system was a good precedent for the game," Buckley said. "Of course, as FFA chief executive, I supported that submission."
But the committee went ahead and "cherry-picked", creating a break in the middle of Vukovic's suspension for striking a referee's arm so he could play at the Olympics before resuming the suspension in next season's A-League.
Buckley said the FFA was set to make a "modest" profit for this financial year, following a significant loss last year, and plans were in place to establish an under-14 national team to compete internationally. The youngest national team is under-17.
And a review of the A-League's disciplinary rules has begun, after Newcastle star Joel Griffiths last season avoided further penalty because he had already been yellow-carded for striking an assistant referee's groin area.
Greg Prichard
May 1, 2008
FOOTBALL Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley has revealed stunning plans for the A-League competition to jump from eight to not just 10 - but 12 teams for the season after next.
"We've got scope for an additional four teams in season five," Buckley said yesterday. "I would be disappointed if we didn't have at least 10 by then. Twelve is more challenging, but I don't rule it out."
Franchises representing Townsville and the Gold Coast, which were set to be admitted for next season before the FFA decided they weren't ready, remain at the front of the line for admission in the 2009-10 season.
Beyond that, Buckley said he was encouraged by interest from potential backers of second teams from Sydney and Melbourne. If the money is real, it is clear the FFA wants to expand the league sooner rather than later.
The AFL plans to establish new teams on the Gold Coast and possibly western Sydney from 2011.
"We've had approaches from Melbourne and western Sydney," Buckley said. "We haven't had formal discussions with the Melbourne people, but there is advanced thinking from some quarters. Melbourne, as a city, definitely has the ability to sustain a second team.
"As far as western Sydney is concerned, we have meetings with groups coming up in the next month or so. We'll find out where things are at with them then."
A potential hurdle to teams from Melbourne and Sydney being admitted for season five is the exclusivity agreement Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory have for the first five years of the A-League. But the FFA boss felt there was enough support for expansion for that problem to be overcome.
"It would require a willingness from those two clubs," Buckley said. "But if we felt new consortiums from those two cities were ready for season five, we would have that conversation with the clubs. We've spoken to all the clubs about expansion, and there is a very big appetite for it across the board. They can see the benefits."
The fact that, after five years, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory would not be able to stop the introduction of new teams in their cities may persuade them to agree to the inevitable a year earlier. Sources suggest any opposition would be more likely to come from Melbourne.
Buckley said he didn't think the argument that there would not be enough quality players to fill four new clubs in one year was justified.
Even if the A-League increased only to 10 teams in season five, the aim would be to get it to 12 as soon as possible after that. The desired end figure is 14, with Wollongong and Canberra slated as preferred areas for expansion. But sources say Wollongong could be fast-tracked if necessary.
The one concern for the FFA among existing A-League clubs is struggling Perth Glory. But there are no plans to get rid of Perth, with Buckley saying the franchise was critically important to the competition and that the FFA was doing all it could to help the club's owners find ways to improve its situation.
It was a day of revelations from Buckley, who said the FFA had made a submission to the appeals committee about Central Coast and Olyroos goalkeeper Danny Vukovic's case.
"We said we didn't believe that 'cherry-picking' the penalty system was a good precedent for the game," Buckley said. "Of course, as FFA chief executive, I supported that submission."
But the committee went ahead and "cherry-picked", creating a break in the middle of Vukovic's suspension for striking a referee's arm so he could play at the Olympics before resuming the suspension in next season's A-League.
Buckley said the FFA was set to make a "modest" profit for this financial year, following a significant loss last year, and plans were in place to establish an under-14 national team to compete internationally. The youngest national team is under-17.
And a review of the A-League's disciplinary rules has begun, after Newcastle star Joel Griffiths last season avoided further penalty because he had already been yellow-carded for striking an assistant referee's groin area.
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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