The Mythical Canberra A-League Bid
What do you mean? Auckland and Canberra are the approved new teams for next season 2024/25.
Though Canberra look to be several months behind Auckland.
Owners not confirmed. No coach or other staff announced. No rumoured player signings. Their chances of being all ready by new ALM season kick off in October must be in serious doubt. So it might become yes a 13 team ALM comp next season.
Any expansion plans beyond 14 teams, haven't really been discussed seriously yet by the APL. Noting the new National Second Tier (NST) is planned to kick off March 2025. The teams for that comp I'm guessing will be confirmed sometime midway this year.
We're mid-March come the end of this week, and even if anything is announced in Canberra they're already four months behind anything that Auckland have managed, that's including having the run through of all the best off-contract A-League players.
The longer the wait goes on, the bigger the shambles will be.
Either that or they simply won't have enough time and will be deferred out until 25/26...
They must now be on a similar tight timeline to what the Phoenix were in 2007, getting their licence on 19th March and playing their first ALM game against the VUC on 26th August. I guess that means Canberra will sign a 2024 version of Cleberson.
Can't see Canberra getting that much help from the APL.
We're mid-March come the end of this week, and even if anything is announced in Canberra they're already four months behind anything that Auckland have managed, that's including having the run through of all the best off-contract A-League players.
The longer the wait goes on, the bigger the shambles will be.
Either that or they simply won't have enough time and will be deferred out until 25/26...
They must now be on a similar tight timeline to what the Phoenix were in 2007, getting their licence on 19th March and playing their first ALM game against the VUC on 26th August. I guess that means Canberra will sign a 2024 version of Cleberson.
Just remember, Cleberson was the one whom introduced the Phoenix wave.
Stephen Conroy said it would be a "terrible tragedy" if the Newcastle Jets were to fold, but admitted that the APL no longer has the financial capacity to prop up ownerless clubs. Conroy insisted the Canberra licence bid was "well, well advanced". [aap]https://t.co/PzqP5xdq9L
— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) March 19, 2024
The minor details around the sale of Canberra franchise are close to being finalised. [Fox]https://t.co/0WOxwKtvN8
— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) March 21, 2024
We are not helping Canberra, just the Jets.
We are not helping Canberra, just the Jets.
The Jets deserve some pay back for "supporting us" during our hour of need. Time to voice our support and opinions.
Capital Football don’t want to fund the team anymore. APL haven’t quite clinched the deal for a new owner to take over (and bring in a men’s team). Leaves everyone in a regrettable state of limbo, but nothing’s dead yet. https://t.co/OAM53d90Te
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) March 26, 2024
Statement from Capital Football board on Canberra United.
— Canberra United (@CanberraUnited) March 26, 2024
👉 https://t.co/TTj12lvqCN pic.twitter.com/TLRUpRUVs5
The $20 million backer for the Canberra men’s team is yet to be announced due to what Samantha Farrow described as “an unforeseen challenge outside their control,” which “the APL are working closely with the preferred investment group on.” [@canberratimes]https://t.co/V0h4gCv4R1
— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) April 6, 2024
The bid group behind Canberra United is considering putting its men's ambitions on hold to focus on operating the women's team next season. With a men’s team unlikely to be viable in 2024/25 by now, the women's team is set to be the focus. [@canberratimes]https://t.co/4CKvBepNcl
— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) April 17, 2024
Plus continued uneven draw, as with 13 teams a 24 game regular season would be too short - not enough content for Paramount
Though should mean a 3rd Nix verus Auckland derby game. The 2 clubs you think would lobby the APL for that, as part of the 2-3 teams they would each play 3 times.
Plus continued uneven draw, as with 13 teams a 24 game regular season would be too short - not enough content for Paramount
Though should mean a 3rd Nix verus Auckland derby game. The 2 clubs you think would lobby the APL for that, as part of the 2-3 teams they would each play 3 times.
Season has to be a minimum of 26 games for AFC qualification (their rules state 27 games but includes Cup matches & every ALM side plays one of them)
The reality is the league is on life support. Understandable why there's hesitation to pump money into a club that will play in a comp that could well and truly fold in the near future. Sad to say that's a real possibility.
Jets folding would be an absolute disaster.
The reality is the league is on life support. Understandable why there's hesitation to pump money into a club that will play in a comp that could well and truly fold in the near future. Sad to say that's a real possibility.
Jets folding would be an absolute disaster.
I'm more optimistic than that. I think the clubs are slowly learning to live more within their means, and reduce paying over the top wages. Last off season was easily a record for ALM transfer fee earnings, and I reckon this coming off season could be similar.
League is maturing in a way, becoming the development league for younger players that it should be. The best of whom are sold to European clubs.
But the costly Keepup mess is something the APL need to learn from. They can't afford any more fudgeups like that. Hopefully the next TV/media rights deal is a bit more lucrative. The cheap Paramount one was signed up last minute during Covid??
It's better any new clubs like Canberra come in when they are fully ready & financially sound, rather than rushed. Then the National Second Tier (NST) gets up & running and the best & strongest clubs from that can slowly be invited into the ALM. I do like the idea of a gradual expansion to 20 teams, and then split into A1 & A2 divisions of 10 teams each with pro/rel. But there is no rush.
The heady days of signings like Yorke, Del Piero etc and consistently big crowds are gone. But optimistic the league will surivive if not exactly thrive.
The reality is the league is on life support. Understandable why there's hesitation to pump money into a club that will play in a comp that could well and truly fold in the near future. Sad to say that's a real possibility.
Jets folding would be an absolute disaster.
I'm more optimistic than that. I think the clubs are slowly learning to live more within their means, and reduce paying over the top wages. Last off season was easily a record for ALM transfer fee earnings, and I reckon this coming off season could be similar.
League is maturing in a way, becoming the development league for younger players that it should be. The best of whom are sold to European clubs.
But the costly Keepup mess is something the APL need to learn from. They can't afford any more fudgeups like that. Hopefully the next TV/media rights deal is a bit more lucrative. The cheap Paramount one was signed up last minute during Covid??
It's better any new clubs like Canberra come in when they are fully ready & financially sound, rather than rushed. Then the National Second Tier (NST) gets up & running and the best & strongest clubs from that can slowly be invited into the ALM. I do like the idea of a gradual expansion to 20 teams, and then split into A1 & A2 divisions of 10 teams each with pro/rel. But there is no rush.
The heady days of signings like Yorke, Del Piero etc and consistently big crowds are gone. But optimistic the league will surivive if not exactly thrive.
I hope you're right. Although the TV deal bring more lucrative is a long shot. Some are questioning whether there will even be another TV deal at all... Anyone know how the viewing figures have been? Pretty certain they're not great.
I agree the league promoting local young talent sprinkle with some experienced players is the right way to go and I personally have enjoyed the standard of football this year.
The league needs to shake its negative vibe. Nothing can grow in a negative environment. There's too much talk about poor crowds etc. It's ok to be a small fish in a large pond (which the ALM is) but you have to have a positive culture. I think WU are an example of this. They've been mocked for their crowds since their first season. Now they've got their infrastructure in place, it'll be interesting to see where they're headed in the coming years. If they succeed they'll have provided a blueprint for other clubs to follow. If they fail the league is doomed imo
The Nix as one of the finalists would likely see a smaller GF TV audience, than if it was 2 Aussie teams to be fair.
https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/06/06/paramount-cock-a-hoop-with-grand-final-viewership-as-a-league-clocks-up-some-impressive-numbers/
However, the metrics from the stunning 6-1 Grand Final victory by the Central Coast Mariners over Melbourne City are worth shouting from the highest rooftop, particularly towards those people seemingly hell-bent on doing all they can to discredit and disrespect football in Australia at every opportunity.
Viewership numbers have shown growth, with a 31% increase in aggregated minutes for the A-League Men’s and a 63% increase for the women’s league compared to the previous year.
And yes agree with somewhat about Western United. Though they seem to be getting alot of help from their local Council re the new stadium etc. Western Melbourne is a huge growth corridor as Melbs popn (forecast to hit 8M by 2050) increases fast. It's at least 10 years since I visited the Western burbs there, but it always seemed like a souless boring housing estate wasteland.
So I imagine Council and State Govt are very keen to have a successful sporting team based out there, to make the place a bit more interesting. I've seen plans out there for a big University, plus huge 'Silicon Valley' type project. Will probably be 1M+ popn out that ways soon enough.
Info I have on a Canberra Men's Team:
— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) April 25, 2024
-> APL and Canberra United investors still waiting for AUSTRAC to release the investment funds
-> Both parties want a 2024/25 ALM team + feel it is still feasible
-> Everything is in place for it to move quickly once the funds are released
The reality is the league is on life support. Understandable why there's hesitation to pump money into a club that will play in a comp that could well and truly fold in the near future. Sad to say that's a real possibility.
Jets folding would be an absolute disaster.
Don't forget the MLS nearly died 20+ years ago and look where it is now.
The A League has made many of the same mistakes. While USA/Canada is not quite Australia/NZ, there are a lot of similarities there. I really hope those pulling the A League purse strings talk regularly to the MLS.