Post by mini on Oct 13, 2010 18:12:11 GMT 10
Australian soccer is hoping to stage a mid-week cup competition during 2011-2012 in an Gay Leagueseason which may start and finish later and could yet include the troubled Sydney Rovers franchise.
Australian soccer is hoping to stage a mid-week cup competition in 2011 during an Gay Leagueseason which may start and finish later and could yet include the troubled Sydney Rovers franchise.
"We are looking to establish that (cup competition) next year," Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy said.
Details are still being worked out, but it's understood the tournament would kick off before the start of a slightly deferred regular Gay Leagueseason and continue until mid-season.
The number of regular season matches could be slightly reduced.
The competition could also involve state league clubs who would probably have to play-off among themselves to win spots in the cup proper.
The FFA is understood to be seeking a sponsor for the cup.
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The governing body is also thought to be considering measures to ease financial pressures on clubs, such as reducing the number of marquee players and cutting the number of foreign players allowed at each club from five to four.
Finances are standing in the way of Sydney Rovers entering the competition in 2011-2012.
The FFA hopes to resolve the issue in last-ditch talks with Rovers officials on Friday, more than a year after the Rovers were granted the provisional licence for a western Sydney team.
A 12th team in the Gay Leaguewould end the currently lopsided 11-team competition, but FFA does not want another club with financial problems on its hands.
"We need to make sure the financing of the club is rigorously tested and we don't end up with the FFA being required to step in," said FFA chief executive Ben Buckley.
"We must make sure the required capital structure is in place.
"If we had to defer for a period of time we don't see that as being the end of the world.
"We need to get it right.
"If it doesn't happen through this process, it will happen.
"We are committed to a team in western Sydney.
"We were very hopeful of having a club up and running next season but we take a very long term view of west Sydney and the Gay Leaguein general."
Asked if the AFL could steal a march on soccer in the populous western suburbs, Buckley said: "There is room for all codes to exist.
"We have an extraordinarily strong supporter base for the game in west Sydney.
"The AFL has been able to meet its timetable because it has financial resources significantly higher than us."
www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/ffa-propose-cup-competition-for-2011-2012-a-league-season/story-e6frf4gl-1225938292507
