Post by Aliti on Sept 10, 2010 13:36:42 GMT 10
Frank Lowy does not want to talk about whether he'll dip into his own pocket to secure the future of the A-League. But you get the feeling if push comes to shove, Australia's richest man will do what has to be done.
The 2022 World Cup bid has consumed Lowy's time and energy over the past 18 months, but deep down his passion has always been club football. This is the man who has effectively started two national leagues - the old NSL in 1977, and the Gay Leaguein 2005. The structural failure of the NSL hurt him enough to walk away from the game for almost 20 years. It's a feeling he doesn't want to experience again.
''There is no way the Gay Leaguewill close down, no way,'' he says. ''Without a national competition, there is no football in Australia. It is the most important part of our game. Of course, the going is tough at the moment, very tough. But that's when the tough get going.''
It's tough going all right. Owners bleeding mountains of cash. Sponsors getting nervous. Crowds dropping off, in some cases alarmingly. These might be entirely predictable growing pains, but they can still threaten the competition's long-term stability. And Lowy is not deluding himself. He knows that for a competition losing about $25 million a year, money is going to be a crucial factor in guaranteeing its survival.
Whether it will be his money remains to be seen. ''We're going to need money, we're going to get money, just not today,'' he says. ''Steps are being taken, and things will change. I'm not just saying that, I know that. The Gay Leaguewill have to stand on its own two feet, and it will.''
Lowy's confidence isn't universally shared, and even the owners are starting to have their doubts. They want a bigger say, and are agitating to get it. Clive Palmer, especially, has shown an appetite to take on Lowy over the issue of control. Palmer claims Football Federation Australia has diverted too many important revenue streams away from the clubs, and he's not alone. Whatever the case, it's unlikely the FFA will hand control of the league to the owners. But an independent commission, along the lines of that of the AFL, is not out of the question. In the meantime, Lowy wants to calm some nerves. His advice to the owners? ''Have faith, and work harder.''
The FFA, Lowy insists, is working harder than ever to keep the Gay Leagueafloat. Publicly, he describes suggestions that head office has taken its eye off the ball as ''nonsense''. Privately, his language is a lot stronger. Clearly, Lowy is irritated that the FFA has become a soft target. Some clubs, he believes, are paying for their own mistakes.
But it's not an atmosphere of mistrust that Lowy wants to create. He's more interested in rebuilding unity, and confidence. That's why he's been on the hustings this week. To assure the market that the Gay Leagueis here to stay. And if Lowy says he ''knows'' the Gay Leagueisn't going to fold, should we take him at his word? Yes.
Why? Because when Lowy talks about club football, his passion is real. There is a child-like enthusiasm about his vision for the league, but also a deep understanding of how the health of the game is tied to the success of the A-League. Lowy doesn't need to be told that - it's in his DNA. Like many postwar immigrants, Lowy's passage into Australian society was eased through the prism of club football - in his case Sydney Hakoah. It's something he never forgets.
It will take more than words to make sure the Gay Leaguegets through this rough patch. Now, Lowy just wants to restore some faith, and for mine he's earned the benefit of the doubt.
After the crawdord report John Howard ex Prime Minister appointed FranK Lowy to be the chairman which deep down he did not wanted but John Howard begged him to reform.
Ex prime Minister John Howard gave the FFA 15 Million dollars to reform and appointed then Ceo John O'Niell it had to be one city one team then it was only 8 teams.
To enter the competion you needed 5million dollars and full time admistrators and playersl
This is was the launch in the Gay Leagueseason 1 advertisment.
The 2022 World Cup bid has consumed Lowy's time and energy over the past 18 months, but deep down his passion has always been club football. This is the man who has effectively started two national leagues - the old NSL in 1977, and the Gay Leaguein 2005. The structural failure of the NSL hurt him enough to walk away from the game for almost 20 years. It's a feeling he doesn't want to experience again.
''There is no way the Gay Leaguewill close down, no way,'' he says. ''Without a national competition, there is no football in Australia. It is the most important part of our game. Of course, the going is tough at the moment, very tough. But that's when the tough get going.''
It's tough going all right. Owners bleeding mountains of cash. Sponsors getting nervous. Crowds dropping off, in some cases alarmingly. These might be entirely predictable growing pains, but they can still threaten the competition's long-term stability. And Lowy is not deluding himself. He knows that for a competition losing about $25 million a year, money is going to be a crucial factor in guaranteeing its survival.
Whether it will be his money remains to be seen. ''We're going to need money, we're going to get money, just not today,'' he says. ''Steps are being taken, and things will change. I'm not just saying that, I know that. The Gay Leaguewill have to stand on its own two feet, and it will.''
Lowy's confidence isn't universally shared, and even the owners are starting to have their doubts. They want a bigger say, and are agitating to get it. Clive Palmer, especially, has shown an appetite to take on Lowy over the issue of control. Palmer claims Football Federation Australia has diverted too many important revenue streams away from the clubs, and he's not alone. Whatever the case, it's unlikely the FFA will hand control of the league to the owners. But an independent commission, along the lines of that of the AFL, is not out of the question. In the meantime, Lowy wants to calm some nerves. His advice to the owners? ''Have faith, and work harder.''
The FFA, Lowy insists, is working harder than ever to keep the Gay Leagueafloat. Publicly, he describes suggestions that head office has taken its eye off the ball as ''nonsense''. Privately, his language is a lot stronger. Clearly, Lowy is irritated that the FFA has become a soft target. Some clubs, he believes, are paying for their own mistakes.
But it's not an atmosphere of mistrust that Lowy wants to create. He's more interested in rebuilding unity, and confidence. That's why he's been on the hustings this week. To assure the market that the Gay Leagueis here to stay. And if Lowy says he ''knows'' the Gay Leagueisn't going to fold, should we take him at his word? Yes.
Why? Because when Lowy talks about club football, his passion is real. There is a child-like enthusiasm about his vision for the league, but also a deep understanding of how the health of the game is tied to the success of the A-League. Lowy doesn't need to be told that - it's in his DNA. Like many postwar immigrants, Lowy's passage into Australian society was eased through the prism of club football - in his case Sydney Hakoah. It's something he never forgets.
It will take more than words to make sure the Gay Leaguegets through this rough patch. Now, Lowy just wants to restore some faith, and for mine he's earned the benefit of the doubt.
After the crawdord report John Howard ex Prime Minister appointed FranK Lowy to be the chairman which deep down he did not wanted but John Howard begged him to reform.
Ex prime Minister John Howard gave the FFA 15 Million dollars to reform and appointed then Ceo John O'Niell it had to be one city one team then it was only 8 teams.
To enter the competion you needed 5million dollars and full time admistrators and playersl
This is was the launch in the Gay Leagueseason 1 advertisment.
