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Expansion Thread 🪜

Ben said:
The APL and FA have absolutely nothing to lose by promoting two or three ole NSL /Championship foundation clubs to the A-League in the coming years. It will address A-League stagnation, add more games and more fans, and, most importantly, reunify all Australian football fans.

https://www.frontpagefootball.net/p...-the-perfect-metaphor-for-australian-football
Click to expand...
Thanks for downloading this, what he writes is absolutely spot on especially his quote ‘the time for further procrastination is over’, unfortunately that’s all we do and have ever done.
 
Ben said:
The APL and FA have absolutely nothing to lose by promoting two or three ole NSL /Championship foundation clubs to the A-League in the coming years. It will address A-League stagnation, add more games and more fans, and, most importantly, reunify all Australian football fans.

https://www.frontpagefootball.net/p...-the-perfect-metaphor-for-australian-football
Click to expand...
Great article Ben and welcome to the forum...
Sorry but I think you'll find the mood in the tiers below the A league has shifted from wanting to do anything possible to join the Aleague towards a more holistic, rising tides approach... Its too late for the APL to attempt to "mend fences" now... for 21 season the old NSL clubs have been locked out, no point jumping into a dying competition when it needs us but refused to help when WE needed it.
 
Monoethnic Social Club said:
Great article Ben and welcome to the forum...
Sorry but I think you'll find the mood in the tiers below the A league has shifted from wanting to do anything possible to join the Aleague towards a more holistic, rising tides approach... Its too late for the APL to attempt to "mend fences" now... for 21 season the old NSL clubs have been locked out, no point jumping into a dying competition when it needs us but refused to help when WE needed it.
Click to expand...
Even after a week off, the bitterness is still seeping out of you :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:
 
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Monoethnic Social Club said:
Great article Ben and welcome to the forum...
Sorry but I think you'll find the mood in the tiers below the A league has shifted from wanting to do anything possible to join the Aleague towards a more holistic, rising tides approach... Its too late for the APL to attempt to "mend fences" now... for 21 season the old NSL clubs have been locked out, no point jumping into a dying competition when it needs us but refused to help when WE needed it.
Click to expand...
I know we will disagree - but I actually think that if WUN is still in hibernation and Canberra's investors fail to stump up that ambitious NST foundation teams going to the ALM would add to both comps, the one proviso is that you need to backfill the NST. You want to be growing both comps.
 
patjennings said:
I know we will disagree - but I actually think that if WUN is still in hibernation and Canberra's investors fail to stump up that ambitious NST foundation teams going to the ALM would add to both comps, the one proviso is that you need to backfill the NST. You want to be growing both comps.
Click to expand...
I agree but a firm plan would benefit everyone.
 
patjennings said:
I know we will disagree - but I actually think that if WUN is still in hibernation and Canberra's investors fail to stump up that ambitious NST foundation teams going to the ALM would add to both comps, the one proviso is that you need to backfill the NST. You want to be growing both comps.
Click to expand...
yeah I'd be surprised if zero nst clubs are interested
 
Ben said:
The APL and FA have absolutely nothing to lose by promoting two or three ole NSL /Championship foundation clubs to the A-League in the coming years. It will address A-League stagnation, add more games and more fans, and, most importantly, reunify all Australian football fans.

https://www.frontpagefootball.net/p...-the-perfect-metaphor-for-australian-football
Click to expand...

Excellent article mate. You absolutely nailed these paragraphs:

Should the APL and FA fail to offer the promotion carrot, I'm afraid the novelty and current momentum surrounding the Championship will eventually wear off for fans, clubs, players and coaches alike. It will be a huge opportunity lost.

Surely it's plain to see the closed shop model has run its course. The obvious lack of incentive for all football clubs outside the A-League, and the lack of punishment for mediocrity within it, are now holding back the growth of domestic football.

Fact is, the A-League desperately needs to grow into a 16-team competition in the coming seasons to ensure young Australian players remain competitive in Asia, with an absolute minimum of 30 professional, competitive league matches.
Click to expand...

The APL have been wanting to expand again for a few years, it got delayed (except Auckland) by the austerity measures. Maybe once this next TV comes through will they move ahead with it again, looking towards Canberra, Tasmania, Gold/Sunshine Coast, and Christchurch.

The expansions might not all make it, but I'm sure there are a few NPL clubs waiting to jump at the chance. Even if all the expansions are a success to get us to 16, I think we could have a season or two of 18 teams, with a couple of NPL teams either granted a licence or promoted via the Championship. Then pro/rel can be implemented, commencing with promotion only for a year or two.

But the longer the APL hold off expansion, the longer the Championship drags on with a glass ceiling. And like you said, the hype will evaporate. And the longer FA draws out the implementation of an NST league, the hype will evaporate. The game has managed to kill many a golden goose, I hope this isn't another.
 
yes as mentioned welcome Ben.
I quickly glanced over some earlier material of yours and see you come from great developing times due to your Hungarian father and the great St.George days !
www.frontpagefootball.net

It's time for Australian football to unite and discard the negativity

FPF's Ben Horvath explains why it’s time for Australian football to unite and change the negative mindset that has often held the game back.
www.frontpagefootball.net www.frontpagefootball.net
Agree on one thing we do need the FA APL Feds get their act together though not sure how that can get unbundled for the best yet and thats the crux of the matter........
Seeing the many writers/contributers on FPF, many young un's who I feel would lack exposure of times you lived and some similar here.
Is there enough counter balance in FPF I wonder.
Welcome again.
 
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HappyGuus said:
The APL have been wanting to expand again for a few years, it got delayed (except Auckland) by the austerity measures. Maybe once this next TV comes through will they move ahead with it again, looking towards Canberra, Tasmania, Gold/Sunshine Coast, and Christchurch.

The expansions might not all make it, but I'm sure there are a few NPL clubs waiting to jump at the chance. Even if all the expansions are a success to get us to 16, I think we could have a season or two of 18 teams, with a couple of NPL teams either granted a licence or promoted via the Championship. Then pro/rel can be implemented, commencing with promotion only for a year or two.

But the longer the APL hold off expansion, the longer the Championship drags on with a glass ceiling. And like you said, the hype will evaporate. And the longer FA draws out the implementation of an NST league, the hype will evaporate. The game has managed to kill many a golden goose, I hope this isn't another.
Click to expand...

The thing about expansion is that it's not as simple as just adding a team. Under the current format you need an owner(s) who is firstly willing to stump up the exorbitant licence fee and then is willing and able to fund the team long term, which in reality means losing money year on year. That's why Canberra and Tassie don't exist, nobody is will to put in the cash.
So then, when we talk about expansion using existing clubs (eg: South Melbourne, Marconi, Wollongong, etc), we then have to ask the question, what would they gain from it? At this point in time, I'd argue very little. Running an A-League team is expensive, especially with the grant money heavily reduced. The APL is not going to just gift a licence to any of these clubs, they would need to buy in. Then once they are in the A-League, what do they get? No prize money. ACL spots are nice, but they are a double edged sword as unless you progress far enough, it's a net loss. They would get a bit more broader exposure to grow an audience, but it's still not great. They would get slightly better opportunities to sell players overseas, but again still not great. The only thing they really gain, is the ability to say they are in top tier of Australian football. Maybe at some point in the future it may make more sense, but right now a proper professional 2nd div would be far more attractive to these clubs than the A-League.
 
someguyjc said:
The thing about expansion is that it's not as simple as just adding a team. Under the current format you need an owner(s) who is firstly willing to stump up the exorbitant licence fee and then is willing and able to fund the team long term, which in reality means losing money year on year. That's why Canberra and Tassie don't exist, nobody is will to put in the cash.
So then, when we talk about expansion using existing clubs (eg: South Melbourne, Marconi, Wollongong, etc), we then have to ask the question, what would they gain from it? At this point in time, I'd argue very little. Running an A-League team is expensive, especially with the grant money heavily reduced. The APL is not going to just gift a licence to any of these clubs, they would need to buy in. Then once they are in the A-League, what do they get? No prize money. ACL spots are nice, but they are a double edged sword as unless you progress far enough, it's a net loss. They would get a bit more broader exposure to grow an audience, but it's still not great. They would get slightly better opportunities to sell players overseas, but again still not great. The only thing they really gain, is the ability to say they are in top tier of Australian football. Maybe at some point in the future it may make more sense, but right now a proper professional 2nd div would be far more attractive to these clubs than the A-League.
Click to expand...
Is there any appeal - or potential appeal - for clubs from Europe's big 5 or MLS to invest in Australian clubs, other than first choice of players? What was the appeal for the Bournemouth owner to invest in Auckland United? Genuine question as this is not a subject I have familiarised myself with much.
 
dr. bellows said:
Is there any appeal - or potential appeal - for clubs from Europe's big 5 or MLS to invest in Australian clubs, other than first choice of players? What was the appeal for the Bournemouth owner to invest in Auckland United? Genuine question as this is not a subject I have familiarised myself with much.
Click to expand...
Only real money to be made here would be through selling players. Problem is, as a whole we are bad at developing players as we don't have that domestic economy in place.
 
AUFC_Fan said:
Yeah most of the Adelaide clubs (as well as United) wished Metrostars good luck with the exception of one. Adelaide Croatia Raiders pledged their support to Sydney United in their match against Metro
Click to expand...
Exactly why this plan would work, inbuilt network of away support groups something which most A-league clubs don't have in great numbers.

Having clubs that can tap into those networks in each state across Australia would be unstoppable in numbers anywhere.
Imagine you're never going to get a second SA team but AU Azzurri comes in and plays Adelaide United all of sudden it feels like a derby because old City fans come out to support Azzurri
 
GDEATHE said:
Exactly why this plan would work, inbuilt network of away support groups something which most A-league clubs don't have in great numbers.

Having clubs that can tap into those networks in each state across Australia would be unstoppable in numbers anywhere.
Imagine you're never going to get a second SA team but AU Azzurri comes in and plays Adelaide United all of sudden it feels like a derby because old City fans come out to support Azzurri
Click to expand...
Except for the fact that most of those old City fans are now United fans
 
GDEATHE said:
Exactly why this plan would work, inbuilt network of away support groups something which most A-league clubs don't have in great numbers.

Having clubs that can tap into those networks in each state across Australia would be unstoppable in numbers anywhere.
Imagine you're never going to get a second SA team but AU Azzurri comes in and plays Adelaide United all of sudden it feels like a derby because old City fans come out to support Azzurri
Click to expand...
Adelaide City fans would never support Blue Eagles!
 
someguyjc said:
The thing about expansion is that it's not as simple as just adding a team. Under the current format you need an owner(s) who is firstly willing to stump up the exorbitant licence fee and then is willing and able to fund the team long term, which in reality means losing money year on year. That's why Canberra and Tassie don't exist, nobody is will to put in the cash.
So then, when we talk about expansion using existing clubs (eg: South Melbourne, Marconi, Wollongong, etc), we then have to ask the question, what would they gain from it? At this point in time, I'd argue very little. Running an A-League team is expensive, especially with the grant money heavily reduced. The APL is not going to just gift a licence to any of these clubs, they would need to buy in. Then once they are in the A-League, what do they get? No prize money. ACL spots are nice, but they are a double edged sword as unless you progress far enough, it's a net loss. They would get a bit more broader exposure to grow an audience, but it's still not great. They would get slightly better opportunities to sell players overseas, but again still not great. The only thing they really gain, is the ability to say they are in top tier of Australian football. Maybe at some point in the future it may make more sense, but right now a proper professional 2nd div would be far more attractive to these clubs than the A-League.
Click to expand...
how much flexibility is there in their rules for licenses?
 
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