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A-League boss Steve Rosich says negotiations will continue with players association Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) regarding plans to install a hard $3 million salary cap in the men’s competition.
Rosich, who was appointed CEO of the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) late last year, had to hit the ground running in the role, dealing with collective bargaining agreement and broadcast deal negotiations.

And in just his second week behind the desk, the APL had to step in and take over the running of Central Coast Mariners with previous owner Mike Charlseworth relinquishing the licence.

“It’s been incredibly pleasing that more than 12 parties from international organisations and here in Australia have been very engaged with the league and in exploring the opportunity at Central Coast Mariners,” he said.

Rosich is also working through the negotiations for the new CBAs to cover the men’s and women’s leagues.

APL executive chair Stephen Conroy last year announced plans to introduce a $3 million hard salary cap to the men’s league for the 2026/27 season.

Currently clubs have a soft $2.25 million salary cap and can sign two marquee players and then have two designated players — their salaries fall outside the cap.

The new proposal is for just one marquee player.

On top of that women’s players are calling for full-time professional 12-month contracts as opposed to the current part-time nine-month contracts offered.

In a wide-ranging interview with Code Sports, Rosich addressed many of the challenges ahead for the A-Leagues and why they are part of the reason he took on the job.

CODE: Obviously there are some pretty significant financial issues at the APL and across all clubs in the A-Leagues. What role do you think the APL and you have to play in helping stabilise the clubs and competition?

STEVE ROSICH: Well, firstly there’s a lot of work that’s been done already to stabilise the league finances led by Stephen Conroy and the board and it is certainly beneficial to me to be starting after a lot of that hard work has been done. It is providing us with a platform to grow from here. There needs to be a continued focus on growth to ultimately increase the profitability not of just the league but right across the whole ecosystem. There is and will continue to be a core focus on growing our revenues and our visibility and fan engagement so we can use growth as a platform to the pathway to profitability.

CODE: It is hard to be visible when there is not a lot of spare cash floating around. What do you think needs to happen to make the league more visible?

SR: We’re seeing some positive trends with both TV audiences and crowds. Last season we had the fourth consecutive year of growth in TV audiences, and also the highest total season attendance since 2016-17. Now they’re not at the levels that we want to get to. We’re also seeing some positive trends in crowds this season. We’ve had a really strong month and seeing some upside in the Perth market, Newcastle market and Brisbane with their performances. Last weekend at the Big Blue in Melbourne which I attended there was a strong crowd and an increase on the same game in the prior year. I’m looking forward to the Sydney derby this weekend which I’ll also be at and ideally a crowd in the sort of 25,000-30,000 range. There’s no doubt we can do more. Generating growth is obviously the priority and engagement and visibility will be two drivers of that.

CODE: The broadcast deal is set to expire and negotiations are under way. Are you able to shed any light on the process and what stage it is at?

SR: I have caught up on those discussions because they are vitally important and pleasingly we’re engaged with multiple parties and we’ll continue those conversations. The priority would be to continue to grow our TV audience, which as I mentioned was up 9 per cent last year and Paramount Plus are showing really strong growth this season.

ODE: APL and Football Australia separated at the end of 2020. Do you think the APL and FA need to work better together?

SR: To bring to life the growth opportunity that’s in front of the game, there’s no doubt that the football ecosystem working collaboratively together will be a key driver of those outcomes. In my first few weeks I’ve had a number of one-on-one meetings with (interim FA CEO) Heather (Garriock) and also a number of additional conversations. I’m looking forward to meeting with Martin (Kugeler – new FA CEO) when he starts in the role, there’s something already in the diary to ensure that we get that relationship off and running on the front foot. I think it presents an opportunity, doesn’t it, with a new CEO of the A-League and Martin coming on as CEO of FA to progress things together.

CODE: Post the 2023 Women’s World Cup we have seen huge growth in the support for the Matildas, their matches continue to be sell outs. But that fan base doesn’t seem to flow down to the A-League Women’s, what are your thoughts on that?

SR: That’s something I’m keen to understand first-hand a little more and test my own thinking around. My experience in women’s sport has been firstly in horse racing, where professional jockeys, the women professional jockeys compete head-to-head with their male counterparts in a challenging and cutthroat environment and on equal terms. Then in the AFLW where I was lucky enough to lead the bid for the first AFLW team in Western Australia and I learned so much from the process and overseeing our AFLW team. But that was at a club level and it is not the same as a national focus so it’ll be really interesting to understand that more as my role progresses here at the APL.

CODE: The PFA and ALW players are pushing for full-time contract and professionalism in the league. How important do you think it is to establish those 12-month contracts?

SR: The product at the moment is really strong, the ALW is the top league in Asia but it’s vitally important that we continue to grow in a sustainable way and to have a professional environment for the ALW teams and players which ensures that position, we have the opportunity to capitalise on the Women’s Asian Cup which is on our doorstep. Our longer term strategy we’ll need to have the ALW as a priority. I think there is this whole melting pot of things for considering and that’s clearly our priority, so that will be determined as part of our strategy moving forward.

CODE: The CBA negotiations are under way at the moment — have 12-month contracts for ALW been brought up as part of that?

SR: It has been and what’s been really clear for me in my short time in the role is probably two things. There is the common view around the ecosystem and about the opportunity in front of us and how we can work better to realise that and then specifically associated with the PFA. I’ve been very impressed with their understanding of the requirements for growth to grow the game and therefore the opportunity for their players.

CODE: While we are on the CBA – Stephen Conroy announced plans for a hard salary cap ($3 million) starting next season for the men’s competition. Is this still going ahead?

SR: We’re in ongoing and positive conversations with the PFA and we’ll continue to work through those to ideally achieve a collaborative outcome in the term but I can’t comment on individual aspects.