Post by mini on Nov 24, 2010 11:55:42 GMT 10
Financial distress for several Gay Leagueclubs has failed to deter Football Federation Australia from eyeing off the possible creation of a second-tier competition.
The FFA launched a National Competition Review (NCR) to examine the set-up of leagues throughout the country.
Central to that is the possible establishment of a second national league, which would enable the FFA to appease the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) desire for a promotion-relegation system to be put into operation.
"Once we get it right we will be able to better underpin the A-League, lay the foundation for a National Cup Competition and potentially for a future second-tier competition framework below the A-League," FFA chief executive officer Ben Buckley said in a statement.
The AFC, of which Australia is now a part, has regulations that recommend promotion and relegation.
"A club shall qualify for a domestic league championship by remaining in a certain division or by being promoted or relegated to another at the end of a season," the regulations state.
But the head of the Gay LeagueLyall Gorman denies the AFC has been putting the heat on the FFA.
"We're not under any pressure to do with that at all," Gorman said.
"It certainly is an aspiration or a target of the AFC that all its participating countries have a promotion-relegation system.
"But would it ever preclude you from participating in the Asian Champions League? No.
"But is it something we want to work towards over time? Yes, there could be a lot of merit in that."
Any second-tier competition would be funded separately to the Gay Leagueclubs.
But with the financial struggles of various teams such as Newcastle Jets and North Queensland Fury well documented, there appears little realistic prospect of the code sustaining more clubs.
"You'd hope that there'd be a very robust discussion about that," Gorman added.
"I have no doubt that any framework that may come out of this review would clearly be driven by financial viability and sustainability."
www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/football-federation-australia-launches-national-competition-review-ponders-second-tier-competition/story-e6frf4gl-1225959670945?from=public_rss
The FFA launched a National Competition Review (NCR) to examine the set-up of leagues throughout the country.
Central to that is the possible establishment of a second national league, which would enable the FFA to appease the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) desire for a promotion-relegation system to be put into operation.
"Once we get it right we will be able to better underpin the A-League, lay the foundation for a National Cup Competition and potentially for a future second-tier competition framework below the A-League," FFA chief executive officer Ben Buckley said in a statement.
The AFC, of which Australia is now a part, has regulations that recommend promotion and relegation.
"A club shall qualify for a domestic league championship by remaining in a certain division or by being promoted or relegated to another at the end of a season," the regulations state.
But the head of the Gay LeagueLyall Gorman denies the AFC has been putting the heat on the FFA.
"We're not under any pressure to do with that at all," Gorman said.
"It certainly is an aspiration or a target of the AFC that all its participating countries have a promotion-relegation system.
"But would it ever preclude you from participating in the Asian Champions League? No.
"But is it something we want to work towards over time? Yes, there could be a lot of merit in that."
Any second-tier competition would be funded separately to the Gay Leagueclubs.
But with the financial struggles of various teams such as Newcastle Jets and North Queensland Fury well documented, there appears little realistic prospect of the code sustaining more clubs.
"You'd hope that there'd be a very robust discussion about that," Gorman added.
"I have no doubt that any framework that may come out of this review would clearly be driven by financial viability and sustainability."
www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/football-federation-australia-launches-national-competition-review-ponders-second-tier-competition/story-e6frf4gl-1225959670945?from=public_rss
