Post by bobolesis on May 4, 2012 8:55:42 GMT 10
au.fourfourtwo.com
EXCLUSIVE: Details of a new national second division called the Australian Premier League have been revealed which appears set to bring state league sides into a nationwide competition.
Queensland state league sides have been told their licences will run out at the end of the season ahead of the launch of the new league, set up by the FFA to complement the A-League.
Full details of the new league - set to replace the top tier state leagues - are expected later in the month, with a presentation to Queensland clubs on May 27.
The new competition follows consultations last year between the various state federations and the national governing body, in addition to recommendations made in the FFA’s National Competition Review.
The initiative is entirely FFA-endorsed, with Clive Palmer’s rebel Football Australian organisation playing no part in the new competition.
Brisbane Strikers are one of the clubs invited to bid to enter the APL and chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans said today that the club had "cautious optimism" about it.
He said the club had been included in earlier informal consultations about the concept and that the Strikers would be interested in participating, provided the details make it viable for the club.
"From what we understand about the new competition, it sounds like a good way forward for the game in Australia,” said Atterton-Evans. “It is going to underpin the Gay Leagueand should help improve the game.
“We will be there to learn more about it on May 27 and we will be keen to see the criteria for inclusion in the competition when they are released."
The new competition will seek to provide an elite development pathway for state league footballers to play in the A-League.
It is understood clubs affiliated with Football Brisbane, the body responsible for the Brisbane Premier League, have also been contacted by Football Queensland to seek expressions of interest.
Football Queensland CEO Geoff Foster wrote to clubs earlier this week telling them: "An information meeting will be held at QSAC from 10am and anyone with ambitions to apply for a licence will be welcome to attend.
"FFA will be supporting the presentation and we will be introducing Ben Mannion who[se] first responsibility [will be] to introduce the APL."
It appears likely the new competition will also include a strong emphasis on youth development, with Queensland clubs told the state’s Junior Premier League will also cease to exist in its current form from next year.
Sunshine Coast FC also welcomed the news and added: "The plan as we understand is to create a new league which will be the development model for the new B-League that FFA have been talking about for some time.
"The QSL and JPL licences will be merged and both go up for expressions of interest from clubs able to deliver on both.
"More importantly the clubs selected become part of the Australian Premier League. All we can say at the Fire is bring it on, the sooner the better.
"I think the Fire should have a pretty fair chance of gaining a licence considering our efforts to date. Good on you FFA , FQ Board and Foster for taking it on."
EXCLUSIVE: Details of a new national second division called the Australian Premier League have been revealed which appears set to bring state league sides into a nationwide competition.
Queensland state league sides have been told their licences will run out at the end of the season ahead of the launch of the new league, set up by the FFA to complement the A-League.
Full details of the new league - set to replace the top tier state leagues - are expected later in the month, with a presentation to Queensland clubs on May 27.
The new competition follows consultations last year between the various state federations and the national governing body, in addition to recommendations made in the FFA’s National Competition Review.
The initiative is entirely FFA-endorsed, with Clive Palmer’s rebel Football Australian organisation playing no part in the new competition.
Brisbane Strikers are one of the clubs invited to bid to enter the APL and chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans said today that the club had "cautious optimism" about it.
He said the club had been included in earlier informal consultations about the concept and that the Strikers would be interested in participating, provided the details make it viable for the club.
"From what we understand about the new competition, it sounds like a good way forward for the game in Australia,” said Atterton-Evans. “It is going to underpin the Gay Leagueand should help improve the game.
“We will be there to learn more about it on May 27 and we will be keen to see the criteria for inclusion in the competition when they are released."
The new competition will seek to provide an elite development pathway for state league footballers to play in the A-League.
It is understood clubs affiliated with Football Brisbane, the body responsible for the Brisbane Premier League, have also been contacted by Football Queensland to seek expressions of interest.
Football Queensland CEO Geoff Foster wrote to clubs earlier this week telling them: "An information meeting will be held at QSAC from 10am and anyone with ambitions to apply for a licence will be welcome to attend.
"FFA will be supporting the presentation and we will be introducing Ben Mannion who[se] first responsibility [will be] to introduce the APL."
It appears likely the new competition will also include a strong emphasis on youth development, with Queensland clubs told the state’s Junior Premier League will also cease to exist in its current form from next year.
Sunshine Coast FC also welcomed the news and added: "The plan as we understand is to create a new league which will be the development model for the new B-League that FFA have been talking about for some time.
"The QSL and JPL licences will be merged and both go up for expressions of interest from clubs able to deliver on both.
"More importantly the clubs selected become part of the Australian Premier League. All we can say at the Fire is bring it on, the sooner the better.
"I think the Fire should have a pretty fair chance of gaining a licence considering our efforts to date. Good on you FFA , FQ Board and Foster for taking it on."
