If only there was a billionaire sports mad owner who could afford to own the league? Oh wait there is, he owns AFC and could easily cover the cost of a women's team at his club without any assistance from the APL.
It’s a bit like anything. As soon as you do some one a favour as a once off then they will expect it all the time and it will set a precedent.
I have no doubt that Bill is serious when he is talking about wanting the club to be breaking even at the end of year three and doing the above won’t lead to it.
Yipe it ain't Foley's job to solve APL's finance issues. Alot of it bought about by the incompetence of Townsend & Co
True it may not be his job or responsibility, but the lack of money in the league due to poor TV revenue will impact the league his team is playing in and the league he wants to get a team into - if the league falls over then there is no point in having a team.
like any billionaire he could invest several hundred million USD into the league and put it on free to air for years and not notice the dent in is bank account.
His model is buying into, or setting up from scratch (Auckland & Las Vegas NHL team) sports teams. Presumably being the successful businessman he is, he wants them being profitable as soon as possible. As AP mentions, Nic Becker has been quoted as saying the goal is Auckland to be break even in the next few years.
Foley is now buying into a Portguese club, to add to his football stable.
How the planned Western Springs expense fits into that I don't know. But maybe that will mostly be a Mowbray/Zuru investment.
But yeah don't see the Texan throwing a few hundred mill at the APL. Why would he. He's probably a bit grumpy to pay his $22M licence fee and then receive a paltry $550K disbursement. He would have been informed of the APL's wasteful spending on Keep Up and such. Why would he give the incompetents more of his cash to blow.
The A Leagues should hopefully survive. The next TV rights deal will be improved. All the viewing metrics are apparently up, and the previous deal was struck in the dark Covid days.
But if the ALM/ALW has to exist on oily rag type conditions for the next 12 mths, then so it will be.
It always amazes how football seems to think that normal business rules somehow doesnt apply to them. When times are financially tough you have to tighten your belt. You go back to your core business. It would be great if every club had a fully functional youth setup, a womans team an academy. But your core business is the mens ALeague. That draws in your revenue. The rest are costs. If you cant afford them them get rid of them until you can afford them. Its really simple. Business 101
Bonnie Jansen saying on Football Fever that Auckland Women's team definitely not happening this coming season. Says the club are blaming it on the APL but that the club also seem to be dragging their feet on it and saying they are in no rush to get it up and running
this is not true - APL can't afford it. Club have no recourse to change that call.
Is it that much more expensive for them to have an extra women's team than an extra men's team in the comps? Because they originally expected to be having a Canberra men's team joining this season which surely would've cost them a bit in central distributions, extra broadcast costs etc.
Genuine question there by the way - I'm not doubting that it's the APL that have said no
I'm not sure - but all I know is the women's side is beset by problems, including but not limited to the low salaries, not all year contracts and club owners being stretched (not Auckland FC) delivering both teams. APL also said with Women's Asian Cup in Aussie next year they don't have any capacity to make the ALW longer - sounded like a bit of a cover up to me. So to answer your question, with the lack of resources for the ALW compared to the ALM maybe adding another team across the tasman is proving too expensive for everyone right now - good news for the Phoenix.
Bonnie Jansen saying on Football Fever that Auckland Women's team definitely not happening this coming season. Says the club are blaming it on the APL but that the club also seem to be dragging their feet on it and saying they are in no rush to get it up and running
this is not true - APL can't afford it. Club have no recourse to change that call.
Is it that much more expensive for them to have an extra women's team than an extra men's team in the comps? Because they originally expected to be having a Canberra men's team joining this season which surely would've cost them a bit in central distributions, extra broadcast costs etc.
Genuine question there by the way - I'm not doubting that it's the APL that have said no
I'm not sure - but all I know is the women's side is beset by problems, including but not limited to the low salaries, not all year contracts and club owners being stretched (not Auckland FC) delivering both teams. APL also said with Women's Asian Cup in Aussie next year they don't have any capacity to make the ALW longer - sounded like a bit of a cover up to me. So to answer your question, with the lack of resources for the ALW compared to the ALM maybe adding another team across the tasman is proving too expensive for everyone right now - good news for the Phoenix.
Also a thought I just had that probably answers my question as well is that the APL probably thought they could have an extra mens team as that would've brought in a few million to offset any extra costs thanks to the new licence fee Canberra would have to pay, whereas adding an Auckland women's team won't provide another licence fee
Sounds like at the moment the APL pay all the travel and accommodation costs of ALW teams. Is that the same for the ALM?
Anyway the cash strapped APL can’t afford those extra costs that an Auckland ALW side would impose
That might change in 12 mths when the media rights deal is re negotiated
Working in the airline industry, I know for a fact that the wholesale rate between Auckland and Sydney (and Australia generally) is significantly cheaper then any other part of NZ (including Hamilton, my home town) meaning an Auckland side would actually be a lot cheaper then teams from Wellington and Perth.
Plus there are likely more women's football fans in Auckland, Waikato, BoP and Northland then the lower North Island.
I wonder if the Nix know this so are splashing the cash this year in an attempt to win the league knowing that as soon as Auckland joins in, the SheNix will take a back seat to AFC like the men have.
Supporter of the world's best football teams: Waikato..., Kingz FC, NZ Knights, The Nix, The Argyle & of course the All Whites
Rogerson was sent a message from Bazeley this month, loud and clear. "Doesn't matter how good you are in the A-League, I probably won't pick you for the world cup squad". He may be trying to get a move to a decent European league so he can make the cut, something like the Austrian second tier maybe?
Rogerson was sent a message from Bazeley this month, loud and clear. "Doesn't matter how good you are in the A-League, I probably won't pick you for the world cup squad". He may be trying to get a move to a decent European league so he can make the cut, something like the Austrian second tier maybe?
Bazeley selected 7 A-League players in his last squad pal.
If only there was a billionaire sports mad owner who could afford to own the league? Oh wait there is, he owns AFC and could easily cover the cost of a women's team at his club without any assistance from the APL.
yeah, pre Beckham mls almost all clubs were owned by two or three owners that subsidised the league.
my comment was about rogerson in particular. He might be heartened by others in the league making the squad but it isn't like he can expect to have a better season than the one he just did and it still wasn't enough for him to make the All Whites. He might be thinking he needs to make a move to another league to increase his chances. Buffon II
imanixsupporter
Rogerson was sent a message from Bazeley this month, loud and clear. "Doesn't matter how good you are in the A-League, I probably won't pick you for the world cup squad". He may be trying to get a move to a decent European league so he can make the cut, something like the Austrian second tier maybe?
Bazeley selected 7 A-League players in his last squad pal.
Interesting that there is no news yet on Logan Rogerson extension being signed.
Nearing the end of the month so maybe he has something else lined up?
Having lost Moreno I imagine AFC would be keen holding Rogerson. As for Bazeley not including him, enough friendlies and WC warm ups coming in next few months for Rogerson to be included in a squad. Being out of one squad does not mean he is out. Anyone thinking Tuiloma is a glued in WC squad member? he WAS selected for a squad though so does that mean he is in the WC squad? no, of course not. Way too early for anyone to be saying Rogerson is out of running for WC unless they can produce a piece of paper of email from Bazeley stating so
if Rogerson stays in the Aleague, he'll need to be scoring goals for fun and making regular minutes to get Bazeleys' attention. 8 goals last season wont have gone unnoticed but he'll need to be hitting the 13-15 mark this year to get ahead of those in European leagues.
if Rogerson stays in the Aleague, he'll need to be scoring goals for fun and making regular minutes to get Bazeleys' attention. 8 goals last season wont have gone unnoticed but he'll need to be hitting the 13-15 mark this year to get ahead of those in European leagues.
If Waine signs for them would he have deliver the same could be a straight shootout between the two of them depending on who gets game time.
The Moreirense transaction means BKFC’s interests include:
England: 100% ownership of English Premier League club Bournemouth.
New Zealand: 82% share in A-League club Auckland FC.
France: “A significant minority investment” in French Ligue 2 club FC Lorient.
Scotland: 25% stake in Scottish Premiership club Hibernian.
United States: A strategic partnership with Major League Soccer’s Orlando City.
Japan: A strategic partnership with J1 League club Kyoto Sanga.
Foley has openly promoted a vision and business strategy of building a global group of football clubs who share expertise, and opportunities to move players within the group.
BKFC have also held discussions with clubs in Belgium, including Standard Liege, Charleroi, KV Oostende and Gent, and in the Netherlands.
Foley’s other sports investments include the Vegas Golden Knights NHL ice hockey team, and he’s indicated an interest in adding an NBA basketball franchise to his portfolio.
Item on NZH just now about it. After an import striker, favourite is an unnamed South American with MLS experience. Has done his homework on the club apparently. After a ANZ winger also and is talking to Eli Just. Sleuths get to work please.
McFlynn said there are two Europeans and one South American on the (striker) shortlist, with the Latin player probably the favourite at this stage. McFlynn said he had a background in both the MLS and South America and was excited to see what the club had achieved last season.
“He [the player] has obviously done his research,” said McFlynn.
But he also expected other options to come into the mix, especially as teams return to training in Europe later this month.
“There will be a few others that pop up,” said McFlynn.
He hopes to have the new player contracted and in Auckland by mid-August, though earlier if possible.
Auckland lacked a prolific striker last season, though the contributions of wingers Moreno and Logan Rogerson (nine) helped to alleviate that. May managed nine goals from 26 appearances – though morphed into more of a creative No 10 as the season progressed – while Mata contributed two goals and two assists from 19 games (11 starts).
The Black Knights will also target a winger or attacking midfielder to replace Moreno. That player will be from Australia or New Zealand, with McFlynn confirming there are ongoing conversations with several All Whites, including the likes of Elijah Just.
“Elijah is one that we’ve tried a couple of times and he’s on the list, again,” confirmed McFlynn. “Obviously, the way he plays the game, very exciting, he would bring fans to their feet. He’s an All White, so he ticks all the boxes. He’s at the right age [25] to come back and reset, get himself playing regular football, which he hasn’t done for a while.”
Would be fabulous if they could pick up Just but I suspect it would be a tough ask to get him out of Europe at his age. Hopefully the likes of Nando are in his ear.
Good to see that the South American has had experience playing in an English language league, as I always gained the impression it was tough for Moreno to settle quickly without that English experience. No doubt also the South Americans currently playing will help him settle.
Logan Rogerson has extended his contract with Auckland FC for another two seasons.
[…]
Ahead of a pivotal Football World Cup year, 27-year-old Rogerson has decided that Auckland FC remains the best place to further develop his career and push for an All Whites spot.
In lieu of any Nix rumours, someone on AFC Supporters FB page has suggested Raúl Ruidíaz as AFC's ex MLS Latino striker signing. 35 yr old Peruvian who is back in their top flight after 6 seasons at Seattle.
Apparently the delay on Rogerson was him having some sizeable offers in Asia and him wanting only a 1 year deal so he was coming off contract after the World Cup. AFC wanted minimum 2 years and got their way. If he kicks on they could well get a fee for him in that period.
I'm going to guess that Foley and his mate who part owns LAFC found the whole consent process frustrating. Not saying that's right or wrong, but I imagine Stateside things happen quicker in the construction space. More of a just get it done mindset.
Though also wouldn't be surprised if this is part of a game to put some pressure on Council to move things along. I mean Auckland has a long history in nothing actually happening re new stadia, going round & round in circles. It's the city's citizens that lose out.
However, after months of debate and speculation, they have announced they are pulling the plug due to what they called “unique challenges”.
In a statement to the NZ Herald, the investors behind the bid said the move to pull out was not due to a “lack of capability or commitment”, calling it a “difficult decision”.
“We wanted to create a privately funded complex that would serve Auckland by providing a venue that supported cultural life, helped to fill sporting and medical facility shortages, and provided a hub for our local community.”Western Springs Stadium.
“However, despite our deep commitment and experience, the process of delivering such a project on public land in Auckland has presented unique challenges.
“With the extended timelines and complexities, we have regretfully withdrawn our proposal,” they said.
But is that true of the A League today? It is different when clubs only had mens 1st and reserve teams. Now it would not be unfair to say that the core business is fielding mens, womens, youth, academy teams and business outside of that is hostings concerts at grounds, and other non football revenue streams. Could be a good discussion over in the Spurs thread?austin111
It always amazes how football seems to think that normal business rules somehow doesnt apply to them. When times are financially tough you have to tighten your belt. You go back to your core business. It would be great if every club had a fully functional youth setup, a womans team an academy. But your core business is the mens ALeague. That draws in your revenue. The rest are costs. If you cant afford them them get rid of them until you can afford them. Its really simple. Business 101
Yeh, from the above in the mode of the two cows explanations.
You have an A league team. It draws in costs.
Or that line about how to become a millionaire- start as a billionaire and buy an A league club.
And EFL and etc clubs can be worse. Big gambles on promotion with heavy penalties on missing out.
If you’ve got a bunch of women who want to play football, you should have a women’s team. I mean the FA in England has a fairly shoddy history of banning football for women because the game wasn’t suited to them. And Korea (only a couple of decades into democracy at that point) had a president who, along similar themes, suggested women should sacrifice their jobs for their husbands during the Asian financial crisis iirc! On the basis they were only going to quit later anyway once they got married or pregnant. No point saying we’re only going to have women’s football during boom economic cycles…
And our academy is pay to play I believe and academies overseas create millions from successful players, so that’s not usually a loss making area, unless rent is exorbitant.
+3