A-League Expansion (including the Pacific)

100 replies · 1,797 views

almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I meant a joint PNG and Indonesian team (including Irian Jaya) with home games in Jakarta.

Indonesia have a professional football league, Persik gave Sydney a hurry up in the ACL last year, why would they risk that by wanting to enter a side in the A-League ?

It's not like NZ where a small population, the dominant Rugby monster and other factors make an A-League side viable.

How's my driving? - Whine here

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I think what lot of people are forgetting is that FIFA issues licenses to clubs to compete in other countries' leagues only in very special circumstances...all this talk of Indonesian/Singapore (where professinoal leagues already exist) teams in the A-league will never get the go-ahead from FIFA unless the situation in those countries changes drastically, which I can't really envisage.

FIFA would probably look more kindly on clubs from the Pacific islands looking to join, but that would be such an organisational and logistical nightmare at this stage that I can't see it happening in my lifetime.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

dont forget Aussie has the same (if not stricter) visa thing with Fiji....won't be seeing a Fijian team or many Fijian players anytime soon

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23794415-5000940,00.html

OK.

Frank wants to have an Pacific Island team. 11 million people in Oceania is hard to resist for the A-League.

Where it would be based, if that happens?

I know I said Auckland, because of the large pacific population but there are increasing pacific population in Australia too. I wouldn't be too happy if they are based in Australia itself, it would lose support from the islands itself. Auckland would be cheap to and fro fare from the islands than Australia.

"It would be difficult to have a team based in Auckland and playing in the islands as part of the condition of the A League is to broadcast all matches live in high quality which is not possible in the islands."-Tai Nicholas's above post.

-Frank will accommodate them in the A-League so that condition may not be as difficult as it might possibility be.

There is the second tier league for the pro-reg criteria as well. Expanded franchise teams numbers are not going to as a bigger issue for reminding spots.

The marketing possibilities may be big here.

However I understand making O-league strong in the next two years to get the numbers up and show the market and TV the support and gain money for a decent professional league in the OFC.

But it wouldn't stop any new franchise business group in the pacific taking up the offer and demonstrate to OFC that they have the means and the way to make it possible if OFC has the licence to sub-let it.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

There are plenty of players other than Fijians and not all players have military connections.

It's possible but it conflicts with OFC plan to have a stronger O-League supporting numbers to obtain TV and marketing rights to make it fully professional in the next two years.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

The idea is nice, for propping up Oceania football, but realistically they'd need a decent backer or it wouldn't happen.
But saying they would get crowds of only 500 is a joke. Football is taken pretty seriously in the islands...

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Years down the track, but in Australia we are in a real fight with, the AFL, NRL & Union for future TV deals, government hand outs and so on.

We have a poor / nay hopeless history, the one thing we do have is massive player numbers and being international (remember in OZ union is effetely the fourth code and a long way fourth).

11 million island people and 4 million from Singapore plus you lot give the A-League such an advantage over the AFL in particular even the mere possibility of it happening gets news and media and attention.

IMO 16 team league two rounds, 15 home games, 9 in PNG, 4 in Fiji and 2 Solomon matches or something similar.

I know Tegal says I am to much into numbers ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½. But at days end they pay the bills add P & R into the equation ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½.. wow what a ride ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½.. also may never happen. But its got people talking football and govï¿½s interested.

Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

There is a practical issue as well. What kind of team would ever be competitive with a revolving home ground (which would be necessary to get buy in from all of the islands)? Basically you are playing away every weekend, the travel schedule would be so punishing, you'd spend all fo your time in recovery sessions, plus you'd spend so much time away from home I can't see it as a popular destination for players. And you're unlikely to get any kind of consistency with players wanting to stick round if they spend all of their time away from their families. Plus, if it isn't based in NZ, I can't see too many players choosing to live in Nandi or Suva when they could live in Sydney or Brisbane or Wellington. Unless the team is based in Auckland which isn't really an Oceania thing anyway.

The A-league is a bit 'plastic', but an Oceania selection get's even further away from the "club" model of sport. I'm not opposed to it but I just don't think there is much of a chance of this happening, mainly for practical reasons. I share HNs views that this is just a bit of PR for the visit of Mr Blatter by Frank Lowy.

Midfielder, Singapore have a competitive league already, they're a no go. And why are we focussing on Papua New Guinea. They have no football history, its a league country. If any, it would be Vanuata, Fiji, the Solomons and Tahiti I would have thought.

Normo's coming home

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

James you are more than likely right, especially about PNG being a league nation and Singapore having its own league.

But the Singapore league is weak PNG play a lot of football, yes the A _ L is somewhat plastic as you say but you will still support the Nix's.

As I said it will more than likely not happen but 41 million is still a big number and would no doubt worry some of the rugger boys in NZ if the pacific nations played football ........... even if it never happens the fact that it could is good in itself for football

Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I too feel that this Pacific team is just a PR stunt to try and nuzzle up to FIFA and Asia.

But let's say that thye actually did it..

I think with the home ground issue, they could play most of there home games in Nadi, with 2 or 3 spread around the other islands. That would mean less distrurbance than a different home venue each week.

And to be competitive I don't see the team being made up by a majority of PI players. Most would probably be Aus with a few Kiwis and PIs thrown in.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

A PR stunt it maybe, its a good idea nontheless! May be difficult to make happen. With issues of coverage, grounds and getting the players from around Autralasia.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Even with all the logistics in their favour, they will need someone to put the investment into such a club. Legends like Terry Serepisos don't come around every day y'know.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I could only ever see this team being based in Noumea. Great city by the way. I see the A-League in its finality having 20 teams an being split into 2 conferences and 4 divisions (similar to the NFL, NHL & NBA) with every team playing each other once, with an additional game against teams in your conference and another additional game against teams in your division. That makes for 32 round games, with the top team from every division and the next highest ranking teams from each conference making an 8 team playoff. So 15 Australian teams, 4 NZ teams and an island team would be ideal.
Just a dream though.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I photoshopped a map of what I thought would be a good idea for the future expansion of the a-league but I have no idea at all as to how to get it onto this site. Help anyone?

Edit: Can't be bothered trying to work out how to put the map out so I'll just type it.

Keep the 8 A-league teams we currently have but get 4 more from Australia (Townsville, Gold Coast, Geelong, Canberra), two more from NZ (Christchurch and Dunedin), 1 from Singapore, 2 from Malaysia (one from the island of Borneo and one from the mainland to create a bit of a rivalry), 1 from Brunei (they could afford one with ease), 1 from Papua New Guinea (although safety of players as HN brought up would be an issue), and 1 from the Pacific Islands based in Noumea, New Caledonia but playing one game a season in Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands.

These teams play in a 20 team competition for one season, and the next season, all those who were placed 11th-20th play in the division below.

It's all wishful thinking on my part but it would be brilliant if it happened.
loyalgunner2008-06-03 16:49:21

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Host it on a site like photobucket.

www.photobucket.com or image shack or stacks of others. Then post it with IMG tags around it.
Hard News2008-06-03 16:49:01

How's my driving? - Whine here

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

A few people have mentioned Papua-New Guinea. Are they in Oceania? Port Moresby would be a hell of a place to visit...People live in barbed wire compounds and you have to carry a gun if you are go driving at night. Crime capital of the Pacific.

Realistically an Oceania team in the A-League won't happen. The reason...coz there is no money for the TV moguls. People won't do pay TV in the Islands...too poor and what TV say goes because they pay the money that keeps the whole A-League going.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

As I said above, why would any aussie or NZ player go and play in Nandi, or anywhere else in the pacific for that matter, when they coul;d live in Sydney or Melbourne? They already have a hard time gettign people out to Perth.

Opax, I just don't think that format could ever run in a football league. But it is only a dream as you say

Normo's coming home

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

james dean wrote:

Opax, I just don't think that format could ever run in a football league. But it is only a dream as you say

good god, imagine getting them to move to Christchurch [shudder]

I like tautologies because I like them.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Others want in first...

TEN new clubs are bidding to join the A-League, the FFA revealed today as they fell behind the new Gold Coast bid from billionaire Clive Palmer.
ï¿½The number of proposals we have received reflects the momentum behind the growth and development of the Hyundai A-League,ï¿½ said FFA CEO, Ben Buckley.

The regions covered by the proposals are western Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Townsville.

But the FFA admitted they had now ditched the bid by Gold Coast Galaxy and were throwing their weight behind Palmer's plan.

ï¿½We will now start exclusive negotiations with Mr Palmerï¿½s consortium, Gold Coast United,ï¿½ added Buckley.

He said the FFA are still in active discussions with the two rival consortia interested in a Townsville-based Hyundai A-League Club - led by Melbourne businesswoman Milissa Fischer, and local businessman Don Matheson.

ï¿½We are having further discussions with both Ms Fischerï¿½s and Mr Mathesonï¿½s groups and we expect to be entering into exclusive negotiations with one of them by the end of this month,ï¿½ Buckley said.

Other proposals received today include three seeking to have the second Melbourne license, two groups vying for the western Sydney licence and one covering Wollongong and the NSW south coast.

The FFA Board Hyundai A-League Expansion sub-Committee will consider the Melbourne, western Sydney and Wollongong proposals further, and will determine a process and timeframe to award further licences.

ï¿½We are very encouraged with the level of interest in the Hyundai A-League,ï¿½ Buckley said.

ï¿½Since it commenced three years ago, it has had ï¿½cut throughï¿½ in the busy Australian sporting landscape with average crowds, viewership, membership, media coverage and profitability trending upwards each season.

ï¿½The attractiveness of the competition is clearly reflected in the level of interest in the additional licenses."

FFAï¿½s view is that the Hyundai A-League has the capacity to be at least a 12 team competition.

ï¿½When and where we expand the competition is measured simply by whether it is right for football, right for the existing Hyundai A-League clubs, right for the new clubs and right for the local community,ï¿½ Buckley said.

How's my driving? - Whine here

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

the a-league can't even get an up to date advert on TV (no phoenix highlights) they haven't got a sh*t show in trying to organise a pacific island team..... i'd be really interested in the proposal for a second melbourne team or a south sydney team.... get some real derby's in the league.... imagine the phoenix playing an auckland based outfit!!!

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

who would win

Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Well Waitakere United is playing the Nixs as the first warm up to the CWC in japan. Then they play a couple of games in Australia before hitting the Japanese shores. This would be interesting because it would hurry them up and prepare them better for the CWC.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Our own Tony P doesn't believe there will be an extra team from NZ in any expanded A-League:

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/77564,no-kiwi-competition-for-phoenix.aspx

No Kiwi Competition For Phoenix EXCLUSIVE: Wellington Phoenix boss Tony Pignata believes the club will remain New Zealand's only A-League entry despite the mood for expansion.Football Federation Australia's HQ has been a hive of activity this week as numerous franchises bid to join the professional ranks.

Ben Buckley and his colleagues have been examining proposals from the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and Townsville among others.

However, Phoenix CEO Pignata doesn't see the FFA looking at another franchise from across the Tasman any time soon.

Pignata beleves it's all down to population and finances simply being unable to support a second Kiwi side.

He told au.fourfourtwo.com: "I honest don't see it at this stage.

"Clearly the FFA is very keen to see more teams added to the competition but all the bids they're looking at are Australian ones.

"It's not that we'd be scared by another franchise, I just think it's a question of whether there's the market there from a commercial point of view. This is a country of four million people."

Phoenix are continuing their preparations for the new season but the club is still in limbo as to whether they will succeed in their pursuit of Hartlepool United striker Joel Porter.

A club spokesman told au.fourfourtwo.com today that a decision was expected 'one way or the other' in the next few days.

Meanwhile, Phoenix boss Ricki Herbert has been spending time with Sunderland boss Roy Keane as the pair work towards their UEFA Pro Licence, with Keane also checking out life with the All Backs.

Keane had been due to attend a Phoenix training game tonight but adverse weather has put paid to the fixture.

Wibblebutt2008-06-04 15:46:51

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Also i seems another Melbourne team could be part of next season's competition..

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23806978-2883,00.html

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Three bidders, every chance.

Cranbourne Hearts
Southern Cross FC
Melbourne Mystery (have not heard a name bandied around)

How's my driving? - Whine here

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

They'll let the rugby goons try a Super franchise out in the islands first. If that somehow works out, then things might take off for the A-League. I know there will be competition created, and it's important to be the first one's there, but it's too risky to take such a plunge

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

On a slightly different note, some people have mentioned a team from Singapore (which I think would be good but unlikely), but how about Brunei?

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Brunei is miles away (I've been there), they would never be competitive with all of the travel therefore why would they be introduced into the league. Plus FIFA almost exclusively prohibits clubs participating in other countries' domestic competitions. If we created an Oceania Super League and FIFA went along with it what's to stop Europ doing the same? I think we can nip this in the bud

Normo's coming home

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

It's roughly as far away as Singapore, and in the ANBL the Singapore Slingers didn't do half bad if memory serves me correct.

It just crossed my mind as possible because it is such a wealthy nation.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

loyalgunner wrote:

It's roughly as far away as Singapore, and in the ANBL the Singapore Slingers didn't do half bad if memory serves me correct.

It just crossed my mind as possible because it is such a wealthy nation.

The Singa Slingas are full of Aussie players (and the obligatory Seppos) and they don't have their own b/ball league... or players lol

E + R + O

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Plus in the bball league they play their away game on a tour of sorts where they play about 5 or 6 away matches in two weeks. Wouldn't work in football. Give it up, it aint gonna happen

Normo's coming home

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

loyalgunner wrote:

On a slightly different note, some people have mentioned a team from Singapore (which I think would be good but unlikely), but how about Brunei?

Brunei used to have a team in the Malaysian league and they were rubbish. I know. I used to live there - although in 1999 they did surprise everyone and won the damn thing!

Brunei FA was formed in 15 March 1956 and at that time was known as the Brunei State Football Amateur Association. In 1993, the word "Amateur" was dropped, and since then, the FA has been known as the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam.

Brunei's experience of international football has been more or less restricted to regional Asian competitions, such as the South East Asian Games and the Tiger Cup.

So far, Brunei has entered the World Cup qualifying competition only once, in 1986 and has also made only one appearance in the Asian Cup in 1976. On both occasions, they were eliminated in the first round.

Their best achievement was perhaps being Champion of the Malaysia Cup in 1999. Back then, Brunei competed in the professional Malaysian league and despite competing against Malaysian clubs, Brunei had previously never made an impact. However, in 1999, they shocked everyone by lifting the Malaysia Cup.

There are approximately 2,500 footballers playing with Brunei's 22 registered clubs. Footballers are mostly amateurs or semi professionals.

Wibblebutt2008-06-05 08:55:43

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Well surely they wouldn't have to all be from Brunei? With the amount of money sloshing around that country they could afford some good players from all over Asia.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Critical_Lemon wrote:

Well surely they wouldn't have to all be from Brunei? With the amount of money sloshing around that country they could afford some good players from all over Asia.

They could.. if they could actually organise anything. You know the expression "I'm on Fiji time"? Well in Brunei things take even longer.

BTW the team they had in the Malaysian League wasn't just Bruneians, there were several imports. In fact there star player was an Australian forward. Brian Bothwell - he's still revered over there.. I think he ended up converting to Islam to marry some local and is now called Muhammed Bin Football.

Wibblebutt2008-06-05 09:25:43

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

They actually have a team in the Malaysian Super League now too, Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota Football Club (DPMM FC) who finished third in the 2006/07 season. So there is potential there for perhaps another club to join the A-League but it's surely just a pipe-dream.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

i don't know if this topic has come up

perfect solution

promote wairapa united

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Critical_Lemon wrote:

You are correct there. That is a reasonably new development, financed by Prince Billah... shouldn't be lacking in money.

I don't think they would fit with the A-League, although I'd love to see the Nix have a go at them!

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Wibblebutt wrote:

Critical_Lemon wrote:

ï¿½

You are correct there. That is a reasonably new development, financed by Prince Billah... shouldn't be lacking in money.

ï¿½

I don't think they would fit with the A-League, although I'd love to see the Nix have a go at them!

Why would people in Brunei be interested in having a team in a domestic competition of a country that miles away from them when they can have a team/s in a country much closer to them with which they have closer economic and cultural ties? It just makes no sense at all.

I mean why not get teams from South America join the A-league then too? One based in Santiago (11 hours away from NZ) and one in Buenos Aires (13 hours away)? Then we could get teams from South Africa and Japan and Russia, and before you know it the Premiership, La Liga and Serie A will be feeder competitions for the A-league.

Let's keep the discussion to some semblance of reality, otherwise just re-name the thread to science fiction.

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

thats a good idea el grapadura but i don't think we can do it this season maybe next

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almost 18 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

el grapadura wrote:

Wibblebutt wrote:

Critical_Lemon wrote:

You are correct there. That is a reasonably new development, financed by Prince Billah... shouldn't be lacking in money.

I don't think they would fit with the A-League, although I'd love to see the Nix have a go at them!

Yeah that's what I mean when I say they wouldn't fit with the A-League. Many of the options discussed have been from leftfield in this thread.. Realistically expansion teams are going to come from Aus, maybe another from NZ at some stage and POSSIBLY an Oceania team. Suggestions of Asian teams are far fetched. They already have established leagues, and are more culturally and economically connected.

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