Thursday, September 03, 2009
Delayed Dozen - update
So the favoured Western Sydney bid has collapsed.
In all probability, this is good news for the A-League. It's surely inconceivable that the FFA will consider the nebulous bid fronted by a Socceroo captain who can't even find a club of his own at the moment; Canberra is the only realistic option if they are going to expand to twelve teams in 2010/11.
The further expansion has undoubtedly been precipitate. The market manoeuvres of the AFL on the one hand, and the blackmail of the Asian confederation on the other, have scared the national body into two jumps in two seasons, which would never have been considered in more "peaceful" times. The relief is that the high-risk insertion of two same-city franchises will not happen now, barring a bizarre turnaround.
And if they are still not prepared to accept Canberra, what's it to be for next season? 11 teams would be extremely awkward; there are very few national leagues with an odd number of sides.
The other, dreadful, possibility is the removal of Wellington as a sop to the Asian confederation, thereby keeping it at ten teams. The Kiwis would have a right to be mightily annoyed should this come to pass: the Phoenix have been competitive for the last two years, they have established a decent fanbase, and the continuing presence of a New Zealand side in the A-League has been an important gesture towards our near neighbours, who probably still feel a little aggrieved about Australia jumping ship for Asia in 2006.
Instead, the FFA should take the plunge and allow the Canberra bid its chance.
In all probability, this is good news for the A-League. It's surely inconceivable that the FFA will consider the nebulous bid fronted by a Socceroo captain who can't even find a club of his own at the moment; Canberra is the only realistic option if they are going to expand to twelve teams in 2010/11.
The further expansion has undoubtedly been precipitate. The market manoeuvres of the AFL on the one hand, and the blackmail of the Asian confederation on the other, have scared the national body into two jumps in two seasons, which would never have been considered in more "peaceful" times. The relief is that the high-risk insertion of two same-city franchises will not happen now, barring a bizarre turnaround.
And if they are still not prepared to accept Canberra, what's it to be for next season? 11 teams would be extremely awkward; there are very few national leagues with an odd number of sides.
The other, dreadful, possibility is the removal of Wellington as a sop to the Asian confederation, thereby keeping it at ten teams. The Kiwis would have a right to be mightily annoyed should this come to pass: the Phoenix have been competitive for the last two years, they have established a decent fanbase, and the continuing presence of a New Zealand side in the A-League has been an important gesture towards our near neighbours, who probably still feel a little aggrieved about Australia jumping ship for Asia in 2006.
Instead, the FFA should take the plunge and allow the Canberra bid its chance.
