Honestly if any NPL club should one day be let in it should be them. Largest fan base outside the league and actually have well behaved fans from what I've heard (At least less problematic than Preston you SU58) Then again they wouldn't be very appealing to sponsors who would essentially just be advertising themselves to the Melbourne Greek community
Really the FFA/APL should have studied how Aussie rules expanded from the Victorian VFL to national AFL league.
They first put new Franchise type teams in South Australia (Adelaide Crows) and Western Australia (West Coast Eagles). Two teams not affiliated to any particular local SA or WA Aussie rules club. Uniting the local 'footy' communities against the big Victorian clubs.
Once those two new teams were bedded in and a success, they then used long established big local clubs to leverage off to form 2nd AFL teams in Adelaide (Port Adelaide) and Perth (Freemantle). Very quickly they had tasty huge derby games in both cities. Very very smart and successful.
By the same expansion strategy if should have been Melbourne Victory in the ALM first, and then later South Melbourne. Big opportunity missed.
They first put new Franchise type teams in South Australia (Adelaide Crows) and Western Australia (West Coast Eagles). Two teams not affiliated to any particular local SA or WA Aussie rules club. Uniting the local 'footy' communities against the big Victorian clubs.
Once those two new teams were bedded in and a success, they then used long established big local clubs to leverage off to form 2nd AFL teams in Adelaide (Port Adelaide) and Perth (Freemantle). Very quickly they had tasty huge derby games in both cities. Very very smart and successful.
By the same expansion strategy if should have been Melbourne Victory in the ALM first, and then later South Melbourne. Big opportunity missed.
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so Victory and City are scared that their South melbourne fans would leave?
Queenslander 3x a year.
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No specific dates, but more than once Pragnell mentions that NZ will get a 3rd A League club in the South Island
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qx6Vjc5cOQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qx6Vjc5cOQ
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A fully professional domestic league would be sick, though not very realistic
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No specific dates, but more than once Pragnell mentions that NZ will get a 3rd A League club in the South Island
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qx6Vjc5cOQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qx6Vjc5cOQ
Queenstown would be awesome. Photogenic, great airport, tourist money...
Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet
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No specific dates, but more than once Pragnell mentions that NZ will get a 3rd A League club in the South Island
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qx6Vjc5cOQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qx6Vjc5cOQ
Queenstown would be awesome. Photogenic, great airport, tourist money...
Just needs a very rich backer to make it happen. And Q'town is crawling with them.
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Dunno if QT suggestion is serious, but I don't think the current population is enough to fill the Caketin, let alone trying to support a pro football club. I think their best clubs are 4th tier in the NZ system (might not even officially have a club in the pyramid). It's probably a good 30 years of sustained population growth off being ready.
Obviously gotta be Christchurch as it is the only city big enough, will have a great new stadium and I expect would be able to get good fan support. I'm not sure anywhere else can really make a strong case.
Obviously gotta be Christchurch as it is the only city big enough, will have a great new stadium and I expect would be able to get good fan support. I'm not sure anywhere else can really make a strong case.
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A third NZ team at this point would be more bad news for the Nix.
Would it though? I reckon we've pretty much hit rock bottom. Only diehards left. I'm sure plastics in all 3 islands are already backing AFC or SIU.
Supporter of the world's best football teams: Waikato..., Kingz FC, NZ Knights, The Nix, The Argyle & of course the All Whites
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I don't think many are jumping ship from the Nix for SIU for numerous reasons, including the fact SIU are currently an average team in a worse league, not to mention they play less matches in the South Island this year. More likely people support both.
On the flipside, I also don't think it will have a massive draining effect. I don't think the two sides would have the same type of rival rivalry as Nix-AFC (more likely a second rival for Auckland), leading to a lot more people supporting both teams and probably attending whoever is easier. It's also more likely a Christchurch team ends up at a similar level to the Nix, where they're sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes average, rather than being a top team in the comp.
Biggest issue I think will be the extra competition for quality players and dilution effect it creates which could mean weaker squads for the two sides during the first couple of years, although this would be very dependent on when this expansion would end up occurring.
On the flipside, I also don't think it will have a massive draining effect. I don't think the two sides would have the same type of rival rivalry as Nix-AFC (more likely a second rival for Auckland), leading to a lot more people supporting both teams and probably attending whoever is easier. It's also more likely a Christchurch team ends up at a similar level to the Nix, where they're sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes average, rather than being a top team in the comp.
Biggest issue I think will be the extra competition for quality players and dilution effect it creates which could mean weaker squads for the two sides during the first couple of years, although this would be very dependent on when this expansion would end up occurring.
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I don't think many are jumping ship from the Nix for SIU for numerous reasons, including the fact SIU are currently an average team in a worse league, not to mention they play less matches in the South Island this year. More likely people support both.
On the flipside, I also don't think it will have a massive draining effect. I don't think the two sides would have the same type of rival rivalry as Nix-AFC (more likely a second rival for Auckland), leading to a lot more people supporting both teams and probably attending whoever is easier. It's also more likely a Christchurch team ends up at a similar level to the Nix, where they're sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes average, rather than being a top team in the comp.
Biggest issue I think will be the extra competition for quality players and dilution effect it creates which could mean weaker squads for the two sides during the first couple of years, although this would be very dependent on when this expansion would end up occurring.
On the flipside, I also don't think it will have a massive draining effect. I don't think the two sides would have the same type of rival rivalry as Nix-AFC (more likely a second rival for Auckland), leading to a lot more people supporting both teams and probably attending whoever is easier. It's also more likely a Christchurch team ends up at a similar level to the Nix, where they're sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes average, rather than being a top team in the comp.
Biggest issue I think will be the extra competition for quality players and dilution effect it creates which could mean weaker squads for the two sides during the first couple of years, although this would be very dependent on when this expansion would end up occurring.
This post sums it up very well.
The talent dilution thing who knows, how that would go, with a 3rd NZ team. I think there are a few young Kiwis with AFC II in the OFC Pro League, that could move up to the ALM, yet if they stay with Auckland their chances maybe minimal in the next few years.
Though APL's proposed plans to lower the salary cap level, may force Auckland to bring through their reserve team players earlier. At the moment they are still heavily reliant on experienced Kiwis, Aussies and visas.
The OFC Pro League will be a good launching pad now for some domestic based young Kiwis, to springboard into the ALM. Help bridge the gap between training 2-3 times per week at your domestic winter club, and jumping into the much higher level A League. The talent pool will deepen with this new OFC league.
Randall, Piper and less so Liam Gillion have shown domestic players can step up.
Even AWs Howieson & FDV were playing Northern League before AFC came to be.
You have South Islanders McGarry and now Seth Clark with Aussie ALM clubs.
Jago Godden (League Two on loan in LOI) would likely have stayed in ChCh if there was an A League club in the Garden City.
Agree a South Island ALM club would be year in year out, be pretty similar to the Nix. Both good years & bad ones. That's unless like big boys Auckland, they unveil an American billionaire backer when they launch. But it might just be a red & black Welnix equivalent ownership group.
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The only thing that is needed is money. This buys good players and pays for running costs.
As for players, it makes no difference if they weren't from Christchurch, or New Zealand, as long as they stayed longer than one season and were decent players. Christchurch public is actually less fickle and more loyal than some.
As for players, it makes no difference if they weren't from Christchurch, or New Zealand, as long as they stayed longer than one season and were decent players. Christchurch public is actually less fickle and more loyal than some.
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And when is Canberra going to front up??
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
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And when is Canberra going to front up??
Doesn't sound like a team will be launched in time for 2026/27 season.
Window quickly closing for that to happen.
Below article dated 24th Feb.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9180729/a-league-boss-talks-with-investors-for-canberra-united-expansion-mens-team/
Capital Football chief Samantha Farrow is adamant an investor in Canberra's A-League future "must be finalised in the coming weeks", wiping out any chance of the member federation making a last-minute rescue.
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Posted this in another thread but probably belongs here.
NZH premium article today about a Christchurch A-League team. I am guessing it quotes a bunch of different stakeholders (APL, NZF, Te Kaha stadium management) saying they would love for it to happen but have no information or indication that there are any possible owners or investors interested
NZH premium article today about a Christchurch A-League team. I am guessing it quotes a bunch of different stakeholders (APL, NZF, Te Kaha stadium management) saying they would love for it to happen but have no information or indication that there are any possible owners or investors interested
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imanixsupporter wrote:
Posted this in another thread but probably belongs here.
NZH premium article today about a Christchurch A-League team. I am guessing it quotes a bunch of different stakeholders (APL, NZF, Te Kaha stadium management) saying they would love for it to happen but have no information or indication that there are any possible owners or investors interested
Mostly just reiterating what the APL Boss said last week at the CHCH game about having an amazing new stadium and having massive participation growth in grassroots football in the country. Basically, it's a compelling case for expansion and they'll think about it in the future, but the Nix and AFC are servicing football well in the country in the meantime.
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Hopefully one day. But not in the short the it seems.
I imagine size of Te Kaha crowds for a likely AWs game later this year, plus Nix game(s) next season will be monitored with interest.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360970780/christchurchs-new-stadium-could-showcase-citys-case-third-nz-league-team
New Zealand Football has said it ultimately wants to see a South Island-based A-League to join the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC and provide more professional pathways for Kiwi footballers.
I imagine size of Te Kaha crowds for a likely AWs game later this year, plus Nix game(s) next season will be monitored with interest.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360970780/christchurchs-new-stadium-could-showcase-citys-case-third-nz-league-team
New Zealand Football has said it ultimately wants to see a South Island-based A-League to join the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC and provide more professional pathways for Kiwi footballers.
Rosich said any decision on future expansion ultimately rested with the league and the existing clubs’ owners.
But he did not rule out a third Kiwi club.
“The trans-Tasman competition we have now is fantastic and one of the options that will no doubt be considered in the future is ‘can we add a New Zealand team’? I know there will be a serious conversation in time.”
He said Auckland FC’s ownership group and management team had entered“with a really good plan in a good market’’.
“If you have those elements, they are keys to success. Those are the elements we look in any new team across the competition. If it was to be in New Zealand, that’s what we are looking at here.”
Rosich admitted the A-League faced a challenge to compete with rival sports in Australia but was confident it could become “the third biggest league” there behind the NRL and AFL.
“But from what I’ve seen in New Zealand, it’s potentially less cluttered here an that creates opportunity.
“You’ve seen Australia and Wellington capitalising on that, and hopefully will continue to capitalise and grow their business and support.”
While the South Island might have to wait for its own A-League team, Rosich said Christchurch ticked all the boxes as a stadium experience and was “great for football’’.
He did not rule out the possibility of Australian clubs taking “home’’ games against the Phoenix or Auckland FC to Christchurch, but said that would be their decision and dependent on the clubs’ business models.
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coochiee wrote:
Hopefully one day. But not in the short the it seems.
I imagine size of Te Kaha crowds for a likely AWs game later this year, plus Nix game(s) next season will be monitored with interest.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360970780/christchurchs-new-stadium-could-showcase-citys-case-third-nz-league-team
New Zealand Football has said it ultimately wants to see a South Island-based A-League to join the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC and provide more professional pathways for Kiwi footballers.
Rosich said any decision on future expansion ultimately rested with the league and the existing clubs’ owners.
But he did not rule out a third Kiwi club.
“The trans-Tasman competition we have now is fantastic and one of the options that will no doubt be considered in the future is ‘can we add a New Zealand team’? I know there will be a serious conversation in time.”
He said Auckland FC’s ownership group and management team had entered“with a really good plan in a good market’’.
“If you have those elements, they are keys to success. Those are the elements we look in any new team across the competition. If it was to be in New Zealand, that’s what we are looking at here.”
Rosich admitted the A-League faced a challenge to compete with rival sports in Australia but was confident it could become “the third biggest league” there behind the NRL and AFL.
“But from what I’ve seen in New Zealand, it’s potentially less cluttered here an that creates opportunity.
“You’ve seen Australia and Wellington capitalising on that, and hopefully will continue to capitalise and grow their business and support.”
While the South Island might have to wait for its own A-League team, Rosich said Christchurch ticked all the boxes as a stadium experience and was “great for football’’.
He did not rule out the possibility of Australian clubs taking “home’’ games against the Phoenix or Auckland FC to Christchurch, but said that would be their decision and dependent on the clubs’ business models.
They really need to sort out getting 10-12 Australian teams that work before getting a third NZ team IMO.
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observerfromuh wrote:coochiee wrote:They really need to sort out getting 10-12 Australian teams that work before getting a third NZ team IMO.
Hopefully one day. But not in the short the it seems.
I imagine size of Te Kaha crowds for a likely AWs game later this year, plus Nix game(s) next season will be monitored with interest.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360970780/christchurchs-new-stadium-could-showcase-citys-case-third-nz-league-team
New Zealand Football has said it ultimately wants to see a South Island-based A-League to join the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC and provide more professional pathways for Kiwi footballers.
Rosich said any decision on future expansion ultimately rested with the league and the existing clubs’ owners.
But he did not rule out a third Kiwi club.
“The trans-Tasman competition we have now is fantastic and one of the options that will no doubt be considered in the future is ‘can we add a New Zealand team’? I know there will be a serious conversation in time.”
He said Auckland FC’s ownership group and management team had entered“with a really good plan in a good market’’.
“If you have those elements, they are keys to success. Those are the elements we look in any new team across the competition. If it was to be in New Zealand, that’s what we are looking at here.”
Rosich admitted the A-League faced a challenge to compete with rival sports in Australia but was confident it could become “the third biggest league” there behind the NRL and AFL.
“But from what I’ve seen in New Zealand, it’s potentially less cluttered here an that creates opportunity.
“You’ve seen Australia and Wellington capitalising on that, and hopefully will continue to capitalise and grow their business and support.”
While the South Island might have to wait for its own A-League team, Rosich said Christchurch ticked all the boxes as a stadium experience and was “great for football’’.
He did not rule out the possibility of Australian clubs taking “home’’ games against the Phoenix or Auckland FC to Christchurch, but said that would be their decision and dependent on the clubs’ business models.
I don't think we have enough talent yet for 3 professional outfits, would just end up hurting all three teams. Maybe once Auckland's academy starts raising and fielding talents it'll be more doable. Then we'd have two professional academies and more talent will rise through. Until then let's not stretch ourselves too thin
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Some lunatic on Reddit was claiming that a "little birdie" told them that Macarthur were folding
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
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Noah4thenix wrote:observerfromuh wrote:I don't think we have enough talent yet for 3 professional outfits, would just end up hurting all three teams. Maybe once Auckland's academy starts raising and fielding talents it'll be more doable. Then we'd have two professional academies and more talent will rise through. Until then let's not stretch ourselves too thincoochiee wrote:They really need to sort out getting 10-12 Australian teams that work before getting a third NZ team IMO.
Hopefully one day. But not in the short the it seems.
I imagine size of Te Kaha crowds for a likely AWs game later this year, plus Nix game(s) next season will be monitored with interest.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360970780/christchurchs-new-stadium-could-showcase-citys-case-third-nz-league-team
New Zealand Football has said it ultimately wants to see a South Island-based A-League to join the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC and provide more professional pathways for Kiwi footballers.
Rosich said any decision on future expansion ultimately rested with the league and the existing clubs’ owners.
But he did not rule out a third Kiwi club.
“The trans-Tasman competition we have now is fantastic and one of the options that will no doubt be considered in the future is ‘can we add a New Zealand team’? I know there will be a serious conversation in time.”
He said Auckland FC’s ownership group and management team had entered“with a really good plan in a good market’’.
“If you have those elements, they are keys to success. Those are the elements we look in any new team across the competition. If it was to be in New Zealand, that’s what we are looking at here.”
Rosich admitted the A-League faced a challenge to compete with rival sports in Australia but was confident it could become “the third biggest league” there behind the NRL and AFL.
“But from what I’ve seen in New Zealand, it’s potentially less cluttered here an that creates opportunity.
“You’ve seen Australia and Wellington capitalising on that, and hopefully will continue to capitalise and grow their business and support.”
While the South Island might have to wait for its own A-League team, Rosich said Christchurch ticked all the boxes as a stadium experience and was “great for football’’.
He did not rule out the possibility of Australian clubs taking “home’’ games against the Phoenix or Auckland FC to Christchurch, but said that would be their decision and dependent on the clubs’ business models.
Auckland have no plans to have an academy. Their model is to keep players at their local clubs until they bring them into their reserves team
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I think the OFC Pro League - which could have 3 NZ teams in it next year - will be a big help in preparing more Kiwi footballers for the A League, and in some cases beyond. A very useful first step from training part time 3 nights per week, to mostly full time.
Yipe at the moment the NZ talent pool would be stretched by having a 3rd NZ A League club. But give it some time and that player base will deepen.
About 40 Kiwis playing in the OFC League currently, most of them young with room to improve in a fully pro environment.
Yipe at the moment the NZ talent pool would be stretched by having a 3rd NZ A League club. But give it some time and that player base will deepen.
About 40 Kiwis playing in the OFC League currently, most of them young with room to improve in a fully pro environment.
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