60 page report released earlier this week.
Reading this SBS article, you would have to say the prospect of a 2nd tier working out, seems a bit more feasible than earlier news on the idea.
Wonder if ACFC was invited at all into these discussions. Presume not, especially when travel is already touted as the biggest cost. But the Warriors have at times operated their reserve team in the NSW local league comp, so kind of a precedent.
But imagine those 30 odd NPL clubs clambouring for 12-16 spots in a 2nd division, wouldn't allow a NZ team in at all, even if ACFC, Auckland United or whoever were interested.
https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/2022-vision-aafc-l...
Copied some excepts below that caught my eye.
Describing their proposals as "affordable and feasible", the AAFC estimate that the price of running a second tier - which has been given the working title of 'The Championship' by the group - would reach up to $3.3 million.
Participating clubs, per the report, would be required to pay an annual participation fee of $200,000 on top of an annual budget of between $850,000 and $1.6 million.
Significantly lower than operating budgets in the A-League, the AAFC believe this figure to be eminently achievable, citing that some existing NPL clubs already operate on budgets of up to $950,000.
Under the plans, players would initially be semi-professional, with the intention that clubs would seek to rapidly professionalise once viable.
The 12-team, 22-round national competition is estimated to generate $1.45 million in transportation costs (roughly $120,000 per club) and a targeted 16-team, 30-round competition will incur $2.62 million in travel expenses (around $165,000 per club).
Teams seeking entry to the competition - the 32 clubs that contributed to the report, not necessarily the pool that the AAFC envision initial NSD competitors being drawn from - would have to meet strict entry criteria.
Tapped as a 12-team competition at its birth, the AAFC envision the competition expanding to 16 teams via promotion from the NPL as soon as possible, preferably within the first four years.
Full promotion and relegation, the former contingent on minimum requirements being met, would then be introduced in the NPL.
Promotion and relegation in the A-League is not a formal feature of the proposal, though 2028 is mentioned as a hypothetical date it could be pursued in the report; placed within a broader vision of the league's introduction being an almost complete success.
The AAFC is now expected to begin a consultation process with the game's various stakeholders before finalising their proposals, with an April 2 target date for completion.
It will then be presented to the board of Football Australia - the governing body ultimately controlling the timing and structure of any prospective NSD.
"This report advances a national second-tier model, after considering available options, which is financially viable and, more importantly, financially responsible," Galatas added.