No pubs in easy walking distance, though. (How do Warriors fans cope?)
No shark? That's all there is to it, I'm changing codes ;)
So easy from their position to rubbish others.
Oh the resounding irony...
But more importantly I think everyone has to told you to go for it?
That is true, I'm sorry to the Fever Elite I'm directing my anger at the wrong people so ignore me and my comments. You guys do a good job. Just so angry at the Nix and this bullshark they are giving us.
So in my frustration I emailed the man himself - he was quite passionate in his response, and has sworn me not to release the full content of his reply but in short the decision to play another game in Auckland came purely as a financial decision. Essentially to balance the books and keep the primarily Auckland based sponsors on board for the seasons to come. I was angry and Dome, but now I feel really sorry for him, having to battle with a board that wants to make a profit and try to keep us happy. all this when the team is failing on the field.
At a guess, it's because that is where the vast majority of New Zealand corporates are head quartered. Yes some have HQ's in Wellington (Xero Phoenix?), but the vast majority of the capital in this country is Auckland based.
to be fair if the general feeling is angst - I don't see why (for example) Fever's club liaison can't convey that to the club (re their sudden move to shift the game and the poor comms)
Founder
to be fair if the general feeling is angst - I don't see why (for example) Fever's club liaison can't convey that to the club (re their sudden move to shift the game and the poor comms)
Actually speaking of comms, has anyone got an email from the Nix yet? They put this out in the media and nothing to the fans. The Nix website is still showing the game as in Wellington though at least Ticketek has removed the game so the link to buy tickets is dead
I'm certainly fudged off about this. I can't afford to go to Auckland so allowing that I was already missing the March game, I'm now going to miss the final game. If there are ever any games you don't take away from Wellington, it would have to be the first game of the season, the last game of the season and any play-off games. Chances are that this could be Dura's last game for the Nix and a lot of us won't get to see his farewell. I'll be having a serious think about renewing my season ticket next season.
to be fair if the general feeling is angst - I don't see why (for example) Fever's club liaison can't convey that to the club (re their sudden move to shift the game and the poor comms)
That very much will be happening.
"He's operating a turnstile down the left flank"
to be fair if the general feeling is angst - I don't see why (for example) Fever's club liaison can't convey that to the club (re their sudden move to shift the game and the poor comms)
That very much will be happening.
Please run my "Free Sausage Rolls" plan by them while you're there
"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009
to be fair if the general feeling is angst - I don't see why (for example) Fever's club liaison can't convey that to the club (re their sudden move to shift the game and the poor comms)
Actually speaking of comms, has anyone got an email from the Nix yet? They put this out in the media and nothing to the fans. The Nix website is still showing the game as in Wellington though at least Ticketek has removed the game so the link to buy tickets is dead
Nope. Pretty piss poor.
So in my frustration I emailed the man himself - he was quite passionate in his response, and has sworn me not to release the full content of his reply but in short the decision to play another game in Auckland came purely as a financial decision. Essentially to balance the books and keep the primarily Auckland based sponsors on board for the seasons to come. I was angry and Dome, but now I feel really sorry for him, having to battle with a board that wants to make a profit and try to keep us happy. all this when the team is failing on the field.
At a guess, it's because that is where the vast majority of New Zealand corporates are head quartered. Yes some have HQ's in Wellington (Xero Phoenix?), but the vast majority of the capital in this country is Auckland based.
The club will know what the fans feelings are - they see social media; they read these forums, they follow a lot of fans; whether FE, F, or just plain fs. The most disappointing thing is (once again), the lack of either direct or indirect communication. New comms peeps again this season and new hope... which again seems to have been misplaced.
Many of us invest a lot of our free time, money, and effort in this club and it seems that the club - or at least those representing it off the pitch (or on it could be argued) don't give a flying fudge.
Like Tegal (and I rarely think that lol), and many people; I can understand why it's happening - but that doesn't excuse the piss-poor communication from Nix HQ. I shouldn't have to "understand" why; I should know, because the club should be telling me; as a fan/member/supporter/stakeholder exactly what's happening, when it's happening, and why it's happening. IT'S MY CLUB.
Or so I thought. Though I find myself increasingly wondering whether this club is worth my investment. The point is not far away where it'll be much easier to simply not give a fudge - as it seems the club doesn't.
I still remember the days where Tony P and Thunderstix would come on here and explain things, respond to concerns, and make fans feel an important part of the community. It really doesn't seem like it would be that hard to do.
The communication of the organisation in the last few years has really been appalling.
I still remember the days where Tony P and Thunderstix would come on here and explain things, respond to concerns, and make fans feel an important part of the community. It really doesn't seem like it would be that hard to do.
The communication of the organisation in the last few years has really been appalling.
Put more simply - What Communication?? Oh and by the way C-Diddy, if there is a chance of Sausage Rolls, Patrick knows how to get his hands on them - eg: Hutt Park!!
Great thread this.... have enjoyed reading the emotion & passion of YF fans....
If I could [attempt] to summarise the thread feeling in a couple of words it would be "owners & management".
If I am right then the thread has IMO nailed the core & central issue ie "owners & management"...... as an aside your support in Australia is falling ... football folk who previously supported you now are also questioning whether or not you add enough value to the league ...
No use going over old ground ... but its fair to say you have lost the support of the Australian Football media on the whole... as well as many Football fans that previously supported your inclusion....
I hope your management can turn it around .... I have no idea how as I am not there but many suggestions in the thread seem to make common sense so maybe thats a reasonable starting point...
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
Great thread this.... have enjoyed reading the emotion & passion of YF fans....
If I could [attempt] to summarise the thread feeling in a couple of words it would be "owners & management".
If I am right then the thread has IMO nailed the core & central issue ie "owners & management"...... as an aside your support in Australia is falling ... football folk who previously supported you now are also questioning whether or not you add enough value to the league ...
No use going over old ground ... but its fair to say you have lost the support of the Australian Football media on the whole... as well as many Football fans that previously supported your inclusion....
I hope your management can turn it around .... I have no idea how as I am not there but many suggestions in the thread seem to make common sense so maybe thats a reasonable starting point...
Dome and Co aren't listening, and they have no knowledge of the REAL Australian Soccer Powerbroker structure, which is half their problem.
The Nix can survive if they talk to the REAL powerbrokers of Aussie Soccer (i.e the Euro-Aussies working at NPL level, who have no interesting in the Anglicized, Gentrified manner in which the FFA now do things). If the Nix formed alliances, proper alliances with the likes of South Melbourne, Sydney United and the like, they will get the real goss.
Another option is for the club office to be based and registered in Sydney Australia, then sell 10 homes games a year to Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
The whole WelNix reign has been characterised by an ownership group who seem naive or even oblivious to the emotional aspects of football fans. They seem to not understand why people are fans of football teams (outside of the big English and European clubs) - local identity and a sense of community. The travelling roadshow matches may make economic sense in the short term but as I can remember saying ages ago, they chip away at the supporter base in Wellington which is the long term future of the club. The way the club will be viable is if it has enough core support in Wellington. I suspect that the issue stems from the WelNix guys not being passionate football fans themselves, and coming from industries where brand loyalty isn't a big factor (for instance, infrastructure. It's not like people choose to fly out of a specific airport because they have an emotional attachment to it over other airports).
This has been coupled with a lack of ambition for the club from the top down. Yes we have factors which work against us (travel, NZ base, less money) but we have an advantage in the kiwi players as locals rule (which we bafflingly have chosen to minimize) and because of the salary cap we aren't as far away from the big clubs as small clubs are in saythe EPL. But instead we talk about goals of making the top 6 when we could/should always be aiming to be top 4 at least. Yeah we might not get there but setting expectations low just adds to our tag as losers, which is how the general public see us, and which the players are surely aware of.
Having been in a couple of workplaces where shark has spiralled downhill before I think I see similar signs at the Nix - there's a rotten culture. Mediocrity and going through the motions are accepted, poor performance is not addressed, and different parts of the organization seem entirely disconnected from each other. And on top of that, there's terrible communication.
It's great that WelNix saved the club from Terry's financial meltdown but I hope they have the ability to reflect on how their decisions have contributed to the problems we have today.
Darije is clearing out the playing staff which might help, but the back office needs a huge shakeup too. Dome should go. The football committee needs replacing with a director of football. Rob needs to engage with the public a lot more, or at least delegate someone else to do it.
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
(----)
Having been in a couple of workplaces where shark has spiralled downhill before I think I see similar signs at the Nix - there's a rotten culture. Mediocrity and going through the motions are accepted, poor performance is not addressed, and different parts of the organization seem entirely disconnected from each other. And on top of that, there's terrible communication. It's great that WelNix saved the club from Terry's financial meltdown but I hope they have the ability to reflect on how their decisions have contributed to the problems we have today.
(---)
My biggest concern is that Welnix ambitions and culture started resembling NZF ambitions and culture.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Can you tell us in 100 words or less [trying to prevent one of your tomes] what has changed in Australian eyes since the last time when [presumably] they supported us?
Who are these people that no longer support us?
If the A League gets run by the A League clubs [which must happen], then they will never get rid of us while we are not a drain on the organisation.
Great thread this.... have enjoyed reading the emotion & passion of YF fans....
If I could [attempt] to summarise the thread feeling in a couple of words it would be "owners & management".
If I am right then the thread has IMO nailed the core & central issue ie "owners & management"...... as an aside your support in Australia is falling ... football folk who previously supported you now are also questioning whether or not you add enough value to the league ...
No use going over old ground ... but its fair to say you have lost the support of the Australian Football media on the whole... as well as many Football fans that previously supported your inclusion....
I hope your management can turn it around .... I have no idea how as I am not there but many suggestions in the thread seem to make common sense so maybe thats a reasonable starting point...
Dome and Co aren't listening, and they have no knowledge of the REAL Australian Soccer Powerbroker structure, which is half their problem.
The Nix can survive if they talk to the REAL powerbrokers of Aussie Soccer (i.e the Euro-Aussies working at NPL level, who have no interesting in the Anglicized, Gentrified manner in which the FFA now do things). If the Nix formed alliances, proper alliances with the likes of South Melbourne, Sydney United and the like, they will get the real goss.
Another option is for the club office to be based and registered in Sydney Australia, then sell 10 homes games a year to Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
An observation, look at the Joined dates of many of these disenfranchised Feverites. It beggars belief that the club has alienated these long standing fans. If a new Kiwi A League team started up tomorrow, I'd probably jump ship and support them to be honest #fairweatherfan
Great thread this.... have enjoyed reading the emotion & passion of YF fans....
If I could [attempt] to summarise the thread feeling in a couple of words it would be "owners & management".
If I am right then the thread has IMO nailed the core & central issue ie "owners & management"...... as an aside your support in Australia is falling ... football folk who previously supported you now are also questioning whether or not you add enough value to the league ...
No use going over old ground ... but its fair to say you have lost the support of the Australian Football media on the whole... as well as many Football fans that previously supported your inclusion....
I hope your management can turn it around .... I have no idea how as I am not there but many suggestions in the thread seem to make common sense so maybe thats a reasonable starting point...
Dome and Co aren't listening, and they have no knowledge of the REAL Australian Soccer Powerbroker structure, which is half their problem.
The Nix can survive if they talk to the REAL powerbrokers of Aussie Soccer (i.e the Euro-Aussies working at NPL level, who have no interesting in the Anglicized, Gentrified manner in which the FFA now do things). If the Nix formed alliances, proper alliances with the likes of South Melbourne, Sydney United and the like, they will get the real goss.
Another option is for the club office to be based and registered in Sydney Australia, then sell 10 homes games a year to Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
Not an intelligent response, NPL clubs hold the Junior Fees, where Sydney/Melbourne clubs charge $2000 per year for kids to play. That's why the State Feds didn't give up their vote at FFA Congress.
Why do you think pay the wages at NPL clubs?
Back to topic, as others are saying, Dome and Co seem "out of touch" with both the NZ and Aussie Soccer Landscape. That is the essence of your problem.
When does the Dome OUT banner get shown in the YF zone?
Can you tell us in 100 words or less [trying to prevent one of your tomes] what has changed in Australian eyes since the last time when [presumably] they supported us?
Who are these people that no longer support us?
If the A League gets run by the A League clubs [which must happen], then they will never get rid of us while we are not a drain on the organisation.
The short version.
The Lowy family, especially Frank, have bigger issues today and the ten years is up.
Mike Cockerial was a massive supporter and he was very influential in the media as a whole, since his passing no one has taken his place and a number of anti Nix articles have been written. In fact some jurnos are openly calling for the Nix to go ... No one in the media is defending you from these journos
Forums, once upon a time a Nix's out forum would get a number of posters supporting the Nix’s today very few.
AS for the drain on resources, don’t want to go over old ground, today its growing revenue for the league not paying your costs.
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
Still the same rubbish. Only two clubs in the A-League have never required an FFA bailout and that is the Phoenix and Victory.
The Phoenix are no burden. At worst they may put less into the pool but if you then balance 4 games a round vs 5 that doesn't stand up.
You've pedaled the same buckshot for 10 years midfielder and it's never stood up.
You just buy the FFA and Fox PR crap every time.
Still the same rubbish. Only two clubs in the A-League have never required an FFA bailout and that is the Phoenix and Victory.
The Phoenix are no burden. At worst they may put less into the pool but if you then balance 4 games a round vs 5 that doesn't stand up.
You've pedaled the same buckshot for 10 years midfielder and it's never stood up.
You just buy the FFA and Fox PR crap every time.
The HAL generates more money for the FFA than they give back to the clubs. Therefore every club which isn't making a profit is actually transferring money from the club owners to the FFA
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
That would require me to go to a match. This season is a write off, Fark that.
Someone would end up wearing that farkin drum.
When does the Dome OUT banner get shown in the YF zone?
Let's look at some actual truths about all the latest Phoenix out beat up from Aus.
Primarily it comes from two sources.
1, Fox sports 'analysts' and their buddies in other parts of the media. Their vested interest is that they have a delusional idea that spreading the A-League by adding more derbies and more clubs in metropolitan areas like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is the way to make the A-League grow.
They refuse to accept the example of poorly followed City or the millions it cost to make Wanderers function and don't see how any additional clubs in those markets will cannibalise the fan base of the existing clubs while giving only a moderate bump to TV ratings and their subscriber base but leave the league with potential white elephants in inappropriate stadiums that are as empty as Westpac.
They also choose to ignore the significant retrenchment over the years in the NRL and AFL in the original cities to try and create new markets elsewhere because saturation did not make enough TV dollars and because an NRL fan of Newtown is buying league coverage even if he switches to support Canterbury Bankstown.
-
The real problem for them though is the second source:
2, 'Potential franchisees'. The problem for Fox is that there are no viable franchisees and there will not be in the current environment. The FFA want millions and millions of dollars for a license and none of the purported bids genuinely believe their proposal is viable but more importantly do not see it as viable if they have to pay the FFA 5 to 10 million dollars up front for the license.
What they do see however is that if the Phoenix went under they could buy a franchise at a heavily reduced price off the Phoenix and then their initial costs are less but more importantly they are one of only 10 clubs and no part of the FFA can afford for that to drop to 9 so they will be propped up at all costs.
In someone like Kosmina you have the perfect storm because he has not only a role at Fox but a foot in one of the expansion bids that knows it's not genuinely viable to run an A-League club.
-
This leaves the FFA with a huge problem. They want to expand but their whole world is one huge clusterfudge with some clubs barely surviving, and owners who are asking why they should spend their own money every season because the FFA financial direction is so messed up that the clubs had no idea of their operating budgets from TV coverage this season
FIFA want expansion and independence for the league but the FFA don't want to lose power because delusionally the Lowys think Australian Football is their own personal fiefdom but they have talked up a future that they can't deliver themselves.
The good news for them is that if people scream about the Phoenix the soft as fudge Australian media (looking at Bossi) stop talking about the sword of Damocles in the shape of FIFA over their heads or the collapsing crowd numbers and TV viewership of the league.
Then you have the likes of midfielder who is so blindly devoted to Fox and FFA HQ that he pops in here and repeats the party line without questioning the interests of those involved.
/rant
Let's look at some actual truths about all the latest Phoenix out beat up from Aus.
Primarily it comes from two sources.
1, Fox sports 'analysts' and their buddies in other parts of the media. Their vested interest is that they have a delusional idea that spreading the A-League by adding more derbies and more clubs in metropolitan areas like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is the way to make the A-League grow.
They refuse to accept the example of poorly followed City or the millions it cost to make Wanderers function and don't see how any additional clubs in those markets will cannibalise the fan base of the existing clubs while giving only a moderate bump to TV ratings and their subscriber base but leave the league with potential white elephants in inappropriate stadiums that are as empty as Westpac.
They also choose to ignore the significant retrenchment over the years in the NRL and AFL in the original cities to try and create new markets elsewhere because saturation did not make enough TV dollars and because an NRL fan of Newtown is buying league coverage even if he switches to support Canterbury Bankstown.
-
The real problem for them though is the second source:
2, 'Potential franchisees'. The problem for Fox is that there are no viable franchisees and there will not be in the current environment. The FFA want millions and millions of dollars for a license and none of the purported bids genuinely believe their proposal is viable but more importantly do not see it as viable if they have to pay the FFA 5 to 10 million dollars up front for the license.
What they do see however is that if the Phoenix went under they could buy a franchise at a heavily reduced price off the Phoenix and then their initial costs are less but more importantly they are one of only 10 clubs and no part of the FFA can afford for that to drop to 9 so they will be propped up at all costs.
In someone like Kosmina you have the perfect storm because he has not only a role at Fox but a foot in one of the expansion bids that knows it's not genuinely viable to run an A-League club.
-
This leaves the FFA with a huge problem. They want to expand but their whole world is one huge clusterfudge with some clubs barely surviving, and owners who are asking why they should spend their own money every season because the FFA financial direction is so messed up that the clubs had no idea of their operating budgets from TV coverage this season
FIFA want expansion and independence for the league but the FFA don't want to lose power because delusionally the Lowys think Australian Football is their own personal fiefdom but they have talked up a future that they can't deliver themselves.
The good news for them is that if people scream about the Phoenix the soft as fudge Australian media (looking at Bossi) stop talking about the sword of Damocles in the shape of FIFA over their heads or the collapsing crowd numbers and TV viewership of the league.
Then you have the likes of midfielder who is so blindly devoted to Fox and FFA HQ that he pops in here and repeats the party line without questioning the interests of those involved.
/rant
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
The biggest thing against the nonsense about getting rid of the Phoenix is that if they had viable franchises ready to go, they would expand to a 12 team league - it's not fixed at 10. The only way I see the Phoenix actually going is if the Wellington ownership side of things falls over like with Terry.
Then you have the likes of midfielder who is so blindly devoted to Fox and FFA HQ that he pops in here and repeats the party line without questioning the interests of those involved.
/rant
Mate ........... no one has called on Steven Lowy louder than me to piss off ... as for Fox I care little except they pay a lot of money ...
You scream and shout about me if I simply posts facts... right now there are a few Nix's out articles... there is no one writing in a positive sense about you ...
So if I dare to say whats happening I am on the side of FFA and Fox ... give me a break...
The big push from the mob is to go to a full FIFA model... i.e P & R two maybe three divisions and I want this as well ...
In fact I want a 16 team competition within two to three years independent from FFA ... then P & R ... say within 5 years ...
Do you want the same .... do you want to run the risk of going to the second division and fighting your way back in or guaranteed a place because you pay the bills...
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
They can't find a viable 11th team but people want 16... Case. Closed.
Be cool if Auckland got another chance plus 5 more from Aussie to give you the 16.
The point remains that there is little genuine reason to follow Kosmina's arguments about Phoenix offering "no value to the league". There is no such thing as independent punditry on FOX anymore as everyone there has a finger in more than one pie with PR and consultancy and coaching.
Sure, we are currently playing like crap, but that can be said about other clubs as some point or another as well, if you recall WSW and Adelaide played like crap just after winning the title. And we do not do halfhearted brief misery, we go for a couple of seasons of misery in one go. But then again, even this season we beat Newcastle and Perth on a good day, and we will take sweet revenge against Adelaide one day too.
As for the FOX bullshark, we don't take anyone's space, and if another club is clamouring for a licence, they should do the hard yards and get one at their own cost, 'cause it ain't gonna be our licence sold off at a cut-down price 'cause we're not gonna fall over anytime soon.
It is proper to ask the likes of Kosmina, what have the Romans done for you apart from medicine and sewerage and roadworks? We have a club that pays it's bills, does not need financial propping up, gives playing spots to decent Australian players (Dura, Ross Aloisi, Manny Muscat, Fox, Mullen. Lia, Burns, Powell, Jade North, etc etc), and provides development and employment opportunity for Aussie personnel (Ernie Merrick, Tony Pignata, even Rado Vidosic and his son, FFS). The moment our money runs out it would be a different story, but for now we're sweet, thank you very much.
Sorry to disappoint you Midfielder, but it matters little if the FourFourTwo keyboard warriors are on our side or not. Public opinion, even if genuine, does not pay FFA's bills. We do. That is why we have a licence, and Cronulla Riots do not.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Great thread this.... have enjoyed reading the emotion & passion of YF fans....
If I could [attempt] to summarise the thread feeling in a couple of words it would be "owners & management".
If I am right then the thread has IMO nailed the core & central issue ie "owners & management"...... as an aside your support in Australia is falling ... football folk who previously supported you now are also questioning whether or not you add enough value to the league ...
No use going over old ground ... but its fair to say you have lost the support of the Australian Football media on the whole... as well as many Football fans that previously supported your inclusion....
I hope your management can turn it around .... I have no idea how as I am not there but many suggestions in the thread seem to make common sense so maybe thats a reasonable starting point...
Dome and Co aren't listening, and they have no knowledge of the REAL Australian Soccer Powerbroker structure, which is half their problem.
The Nix can survive if they talk to the REAL powerbrokers of Aussie Soccer (i.e the Euro-Aussies working at NPL level, who have no interesting in the Anglicized, Gentrified manner in which the FFA now do things). If the Nix formed alliances, proper alliances with the likes of South Melbourne, Sydney United and the like, they will get the real goss.
Another option is for the club office to be based and registered in Sydney Australia, then sell 10 homes games a year to Westpac Stadium, Wellington.
Not an intelligent response, NPL clubs hold the Junior Fees, where Sydney/Melbourne clubs charge $2000 per year for kids to play. That's why the State Feds didn't give up their vote at FFA Congress.
Why do you think pay the wages at NPL clubs?
Back to topic, as others are saying, Dome and Co seem "out of touch" with both the NZ and Aussie Soccer Landscape. That is the essence of your problem.
Let's look at some actual truths about all the latest Phoenix out beat up from Aus.
Primarily it comes from two sources.
1, Fox sports 'analysts' and their buddies in other parts of the media. Their vested interest is that they have a delusional idea that spreading the A-League by adding more derbies and more clubs in metropolitan areas like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is the way to make the A-League grow.
They refuse to accept the example of poorly followed City or the millions it cost to make Wanderers function and don't see how any additional clubs in those markets will cannibalise the fan base of the existing clubs while giving only a moderate bump to TV ratings and their subscriber base but leave the league with potential white elephants in inappropriate stadiums that are as empty as Westpac.
They also choose to ignore the significant retrenchment over the years in the NRL and AFL in the original cities to try and create new markets elsewhere because saturation did not make enough TV dollars and because an NRL fan of Newtown is buying league coverage even if he switches to support Canterbury Bankstown.
-
The real problem for them though is the second source:
2, 'Potential franchisees'. The problem for Fox is that there are no viable franchisees and there will not be in the current environment. The FFA want millions and millions of dollars for a license and none of the purported bids genuinely believe their proposal is viable but more importantly do not see it as viable if they have to pay the FFA 5 to 10 million dollars up front for the license.
What they do see however is that if the Phoenix went under they could buy a franchise at a heavily reduced price off the Phoenix and then their initial costs are less but more importantly they are one of only 10 clubs and no part of the FFA can afford for that to drop to 9 so they will be propped up at all costs.
In someone like Kosmina you have the perfect storm because he has not only a role at Fox but a foot in one of the expansion bids that knows it's not genuinely viable to run an A-League club.
-
This leaves the FFA with a huge problem. They want to expand but their whole world is one huge clusterfudge with some clubs barely surviving, and owners who are asking why they should spend their own money every season because the FFA financial direction is so messed up that the clubs had no idea of their operating budgets from TV coverage this season
FIFA want expansion and independence for the league but the FFA don't want to lose power because delusionally the Lowys think Australian Football is their own personal fiefdom but they have talked up a future that they can't deliver themselves.
The good news for them is that if people scream about the Phoenix the soft as fudge Australian media (looking at Bossi) stop talking about the sword of Damocles in the shape of FIFA over their heads or the collapsing crowd numbers and TV viewership of the league.
Then you have the likes of midfielder who is so blindly devoted to Fox and FFA HQ that he pops in here and repeats the party line without questioning the interests of those involved.
/rant
Post of the year and it's only February.
Can you tell us in 100 words or less [trying to prevent one of your tomes] what has changed in Australian eyes since the last time when [presumably] they supported us?
Who are these people that no longer support us?
If the A League gets run by the A League clubs [which must happen], then they will never get rid of us while we are not a drain on the organisation.
The short version.
The Lowy family, especially Frank, have bigger issues today and the ten years is up.
Mike Cockerial was a massive supporter and he was very influential in the media as a whole, since his passing no one has taken his place and a number of anti Nix articles have been written. In fact some jurnos are openly calling for the Nix to go ... No one in the media is defending you from these journos
Forums, once upon a time a Nix's out forum would get a number of posters supporting the Nix’s today very few.
AS for the drain on resources, don’t want to go over old ground, today its growing revenue for the league not paying your costs.
So in my frustration I emailed the man himself - he was quite passionate in his response, and has sworn me not to release the full content of his reply but in short the decision to play another game in Auckland came purely as a financial decision. Essentially to balance the books and keep the primarily Auckland based sponsors on board for the seasons to come. I was angry and Dome, but now I feel really sorry for him, having to battle with a board that wants to make a profit and try to keep us happy. all this when the team is failing on the field.
because companies that are big enough to sponsor a football club base their head offices in Auckland rather than Wellington - given it is our biggest city. Maybe Wellington companies just dont have the funds to afford to give to us.
Queenslander 3x a year.
