FOOTBALL Federation Australia boss Ben Buckley is adamant the unpopular decision to delay expansion for a further 12 months won't cost the A-League valuable ground when the new season kicks off this weekend.
After agonising for the first six months of this year about the mechanics and merits of adding two new Queensland teams, the FFA has taken the cautious approach and opted to wait before beginning the process of expanding the eight-team league towards the ultimate target of 14 clubs. Gold Coast United and North Queensland FC are certain to join the league next year but many observers are predicting that after three years of sustained growth, interest in the forthcoming 2008-09 season will level off because of the delay.
Melbourne Victory, the league's best-supported team, have suffered a 50 per cent drop in memberships (now 10,400), but that could be a reaction to last season's disappointing campaign. Melbourne is likely to have a second team in two years.
Buckley concedes "by no means do we think we have made it", he maintains that across the board the key "metrics" of attendances, television ratings and club memberships suggest the A-League will continue to grow this season.
Asked at yesterday's season launch in Sydney whether there might be an adverse reaction to expansion uncertainty, Buckley replied: "We don't think so. The fans of Sydney FC, or Melbourne Victory, or Queensland Roar, will still want to support their team regardless of whether it's an eight-team, or 10-team, competition. Sometimes it takes courage not to do things, and we believe we'll benefit from having taken longer to decide which franchises get the licenses.
"We will definitely have a 10-team competition in 2009, and we're confident the two new teams will ultimately be more successful on and off the field because of the longer lead-in time. We've heard the talk, but I think everyone gets a little nervous on the eve of a new season, that's just natural. Everything points to another successful season."
FFA chairman Frank Lowy remains equally positive about the expansion timetable, adding: "If I put on my optimistic view, which I have to do in this job, maybe we will end up with 14 teams … and it would be wonderful if the [new] teams are also strong. Everything is heading in the right direction, the crowds are growing, the television audience is growing, membership is growing, the media coverage as well, and the game is reasonably [financially] sound. Now what we have to do is make sure the clubs also become sound. There is a lot more to do, and we have some important and ambitious long-term goals for the A-League."
In the meantime, the FFA has upped its marketing budget by 50 per cent this season to make sure the message keeps getting across, and significantly Gold Coast and North Queensland will be targeted to help lay the foundation for the new teams. Gold Coast will host its first international when the Socceroos play a World Cup warm-up match at Robina in mid-October, with Buckley admitting: "We need to build awareness in those areas."
Naming rights sponsor Hyundai has signed a new four-year deal which Buckley says puts the A-League on par with the NRL and Super 14. "We're very happy, it's a substantially better deal, and it proves the corporate interest is very strong."
Running the A-League has now become a $25 million-a-year operation, and with more revenue pouring in the clubs can expect a bigger dividend this season - not in pure cash, but in "in kind" support. The average A-League player will earn $114,773 this season if clubs utilise all its budget both inside and outside the salary cap, while this season will also feature the introduction of two complimentary competitions, the National Youth League and [women's] W-League.
Meanwhile, defending champions Newcastle Jets could lose skipper Jade North on the eve of the new campaign, but football director Remo Nogarotto voiced a note of caution yesterday. "If the price is right, we won't stand in his way, but as it stands all we have is an approach from an agent, who refuses to name the interested club," he said. "Until we find out which club we're talking about, Jade won't be going anywhere."
In other news, FFA is expected to confirm today the appointment of 52-year-old Dutchman Mario van der Ende to the newly created position of national referees technical director.
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