https://dailyfootballshow.com/the-future-of-the-game-in-the-eyes-of-the-boss/
FFA CEO David Gallop expects the A-League’s new operating model to have a view towards the implementation of a new national second division and promotion and relegation.
The New Leagues Working Group (NLWG) was installed after a resolution calling for its creation was unanimously passed at head office’s recent extraordinary general meeting in October.
It is tasked with the creation of a new operating model that will see the A-League, W-League and National Youth Leagues run separately from FFA in time for the 2019-20 campaigns
That group will be made up of the presidents of the nine member federations, five A-League club chairs, two members of the PFA executive, two members of the Women’s Football Council, two FFA directors, members of the FFA management as required and an independent, non-voting chair.
Gallop told Thursday’s Daily Football Show a new operating model for Australian national leagues must have an eye to the future, including relegation and promotion, as well as a potential national second tier.
“When that group settles down to talk about what the operating model for the A-League should look like, how the huge agenda that the game has got and the huge funding requirements of that agenda, it will have to pick up the issues of a national second division and for the game to move towards promotion and relegation,” Gallop said.“All of those things, it’s not going to be a matter of just looking at the operating model for the A-League.“The future will have to be considered as well and that’s a pretty complicated task for that group to get its arms around.”
The NLWG is to hand down a proposal by 31 March 2019.
The National Premier League representative body working on a proposal for a national second division, the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC), has signalled its intention to have a second tier up and running by 2021.
It has been earmarked ‘The Championship’ and their view is to introduce promotion and relegation to and from the A-League by 2024.
For the time being, attentions are firmly fixed on A-League expansion and which two new clubs or franchises will enter the competition in the 2019-20 season.
A revamped FFA board has seen the announcement of two successful bidders pushed back, originally scheduled for 31 October.
Gallop did not confirm a new confirmation date, but stressed the governing body was keeping its “foot on the pedal” to complete expansion.
“We have got some good bids; all of them have strengths and weaknesses and we’re in phase at the moment where we’re talking to those bid teams about things we’re attracted to and things we think could be improved to putt heir best foot forward,” Gallop added.
“Over the top of that is the fact that the board is facing some big changes and therefore, there’ll be a number of new directors come onto the board.
“It was felt at the last board meeting a week or so ago that it’s appropriate for things to be pushed out until things are in place.
“That is a range of factors that have meant that some of the timelines have pushed out a bit, but we are hopeful still that we can keep our foot on the pedal still in relation to expansion.”