Plans to launch a new second-tier national competition in Australia have caused a rift between Football Australia and the eight foundation clubs.
The clubs claim the national body is guilty of an apparent U-turn in trying to change the planned format from a home-and-away format to a regional competition, followed by a national fixture stage.
Football Australia CEO James Johnson told the Asian Game the second-tier competition would go ahead, despite financial concerns about the A-Leagues potentially needing backing from the FA.
However, Johnson said the format still needed to be resolved.
“Brazil is a great example, where the second tier of football is played at state level, and then it filters into a national level at the back end; that’s a second tier, and that could be a second tier here,” he said.
Nick Galatas, chairman of the Association of Australian Football Clubs (AAFC), told the FTBL site he was “flabbergasted” by the FA’s suggestion.
“Clubs are prepared for a home and away competition, that’s what’s always been on the table and universally agreed upon, not a Champions League-style format,” Galatas said.
“There is no interest in the model FA seem to be exploring as a National Second Tier. I was surprised and flabbergasted to read of this change of direction, and at such a crucial juncture where we are trying to get another two to four clubs over the line to swell the numbers to a minimum of a 10-team competition.
“To suggest the Brazilian type model he’s espousing is a second tier suitable for us is naive at best.
“I’m very nonplussed by this. We’re not Brazil and that model just won’t float here with the clubs.”
Eight clubs — APIA Leichhardt (NSW), Avondale FC (VIC), Marconi Stallions (NSW), Preston Lions (VIC), South Melbourne (VIC), Sydney Olympic (VIC), Sydney United 58 (NSW) and Wollongong Wolves (NSW) — have been confirmed as founding members of a national second division to start in 2025.
Main photo: Representatives of the eight founding second-tier clubs at the media launch for the new competition.
READ MORE: Plans for Australian second division continue despite A-League’s money woes >>>>
This story was first published on July 25, 2024.
More football stories
