The FFA and friends need to concern themselves more with finding franchises that are financially stable than trying to arsehole teams out. I'm still sad that the Fury and Gold Coast got the flick. 16 teams would make for a good league. Theoretically in the FFA Cup, they would be the quarter finalists. However results are a lottery.
Dream scenario, I'd like to see by the start of the 2024/25 season 16 teams, each with 7 visa spots and the salary cap widened. Minimum percentage of the salary cap that must be used lowered to 60% ($1.8m), and the cap itself raised to $3m. Wouldn't mind another marquee player slot either. The 6 teams to be added to the 10 current licensed teams would be Canberra, Tasmania, Woolongong, South Melbourne, Campbelltown and Geelong. 16 teams playing each other home and away once equals 30 rounds a season, after which the top 8 compete in quarters/semi/grand-final (1st vs 8th, 2nd vs 7th, etc). 8 games a week, with 2 being played Friday and 3 each on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday/Sunday games would have a 3:30:pm, 5:30:pm and 7:30:pm kickoffs (local time).While at first the nix would probably suffer under the new salary cap and the Sydney and Melbourne teams would dominate, i think in the long run its for the best. Bigger salary cap and more marquee and visa slots allow for bigger names and better quality players to decide to play here. The quality of the league would improve and would in turn improve our players by exposing them to this new increase in quality. Better football and more money being splashed means more viewers. more viewers means bigger broadcasting rights deals, and bigger sponsorship and advertising deals, ultimately pumping more money into the league.
I’d chuck a Pacific Island team in place of Wollongong tbh, or maybe Geelong because we don’t want too many Melbourne clubs. Maybe Solomon Islands or New Caledonia, even Vanuatu, since football’s the biggest sports there? That would immeasurably improve Pacific football if they get a free pass to sign any Islander + Aussies as homegrown. I’m thinking New Caledonia since Christian Karembeu is a massive voice in Oceania and he’s been calling for a Pacific team in the A-League for ages. Crowds would actually be pretty good, the team would give he islands something to be proud of.
I'd like to see a PI team too, didn't add it though as I was trying to be as realistic as possible. Can't see it happening but no reason it shouldn't. Team could be based in Noumea and use Stade Numa-Daly Magenta as their home ground, which has a capacity of 16,000 (in other words, perfect). They could then do maybe two "home" games in Honiara at the Lawson Tama Stadium (up to 20,000), three in Fiji - Either Prince Charles Park in Nadi (18,000 capacity) or ANZ stadium in Suva (15,000), leaving 10 home games in Noumea (providing expansion is to 16 teams). Noumea has roughly a population of 200,000, which is definitely big enough to be the official home city. The islands have never had a professional team, so support would be immense. As for money, they could pull a Nix and rustle up an ownership consortium made up collectively of some of the Islands' wealthiest, and perhaps an agreement with the Fijian, Solomon Islands and New Caledonian governments to help fund the club. Sponsorship would have to be a huge part of revenue because ticket prices will need to be very low. Any potential problems could be fixed, but unfortunately i doubt the FFA would bother
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.
