After years of wrangling for governance changes, and almost eight months since the formation of a new-ish Board at Football Federation Australia, the new leagues working group has met their deadline – sort of – for agreement on separation of the A-League from FFA.
As with any separation, there appears to have been gains for all sides with football as a whole apparently not missing out on the bullish future the A-League clubs foresee. The details are not yet available – perhaps they will not be – but we have attempted to decipher the turgidly-written media release into four Q&As.
1. What will the game overall get out of it?
The agreement is predicated on the FFA being 'no worse off' from the spin-off of the league competitions. This aspect of the work between FFA and the Australian Professional Football Clubs' Association (APFCA) is still continuing with a further financial analysis yet to be completed.
However, FFA and the state member federations have so far extracted the following undertakings from the A-League clubs:
an annual contribution from A-League revenues to FFA for national teams and grassroots initiatives equivalent to 1.125 times the amount distributed by the League to individual clubs. The minimum contribution in the first year will be $4.5m indexed to CPI, but this is not payable for the next four years as FFA's contribution to 're-invest' in the League.
a 10% contribution from the sale of new A-League Club licenses and on the net profits from any sale of existing licenses;
10% of the value of transfers of Australian players playing overseas;
a permanent 20% non-voting share of the new A-League entity to be maintained by FFA, with 20% of any further expansion also to go to FFA;
2. What will the A-League clubs get out of it?
The A-League clubs have won their longed-for freedom from the apron strings of the FFA and will form a separate entity that they believe will stimulate new interest, growth and devleopment in the game.
They have gained the right to full and perpetual use of their intellectual property, and will run their own competitions including unimpeded commercial self-determination.
Their new entity will include an independent Chairperson (hot tip: Stephen Conroy), a representative of each of the 12 A-League clubs and two FFA representatives. The league competitions will be administered by its own organisation which, in the first instance, will transition from FFA in order to prepare for next seaon. Amongst its priorities is a 'multi-year strategic plan' for the A-League, W-League and Y-League.
3. What other impacts are there?
As expected, the changes will also mean a change in the FFA Congress in terms of the Women's Council representatives. Instead of the clubs' having three nominees, they will be reduced to one with the other two members to be nominated independently as set out in the FFA Constitution.
This is prior to another review of the FFA Congress overall for consideration at the 2019 AGM.
There is no mention of the national second division.
4. Who said what?
According to FFA Chairman Chris Nikou, this separation will “align and unite Australian football’s interests like never before.”
Chairman of APFCA, Paul Lederer said “the recommendations are the foundations for a critically needed evolution and vitalisation.” He believes that the new entity will create the environment for new investment and opportunities in the professional game.