jonk
July 20th, 2006, 01:10 PM
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,19851574-23215,00.html
FOOTBALL Federation Australia is "ready, willing and able" to wear some of the cost of bringing home overseas-based Australia stars to play in the A-League.
Clubs would pay half the player's salary and the FFA the rest in proposals under consideration by the governing body, FFA chief executive John O'Neill said today.
While two veteran Socceroos have come home this season - defender Tony Vidmar expected to announce an A-League move from the Netherlands this week and ex-Birmingham City midfield player Stan Lazaridis already at Perth Glory - a third, Tony Popovic, is bound for the Middle East.
Defender Popovic, 33, who played against Brazil in last month's World Cup, this week switched from English Championship outfit Crystal Palace to Qatari club Al-Arabi.
The Popovic move prompted Newcastle United Jets coach Nick Theodorakopoulos to yesterday call for the FFA to consider a central contracting system to lure home star players, who could then be farmed out to A-League clubs.
While O'Neill did not go as far as advocating central contracts, he said the idea had "merit" and that the FFA was looking at a system of top-up payments to achieve the same end.
"We are ready, willing and able within the confines of our current financial position to provide a top-up for some of the Socceroos who might come home," O'Neill told Sydney Radio 2KY.
"For some time now (FFA chairman) Frank Lowy in particular has wanted to repatriate Socceroos and to create a bit of a 'fighting fund' if you like to ensure if we can get them back and if a club can afford, say, half their salary then the FFA can provide the rest."
With the second A-League season little more than a month away, O'Neill said he had two main yardsticks to measure success this year: increased match attendance and financial stability for the eight franchises - which would be helped by an injection of television money from Fox Sports.
"I think we averaged 11,000 (attendance) last year, it would be nice to be up to around 15,000 this coming season," O'Neill said.
"A number of clubs struggled financially... so I think we've got to be very acutely conscious that every club becomes financially sustainable.
"The new broadcasting deal done with Fox Sports really enables the FFA to subsidise the clubs to the tune of about $1.5 million each per year."
Although football's popularity soared thanks to Australia's exploits in Germany, O'Neill conceded it was now "back to reality", saying the sport had its work cut out if was to seriously rival Australian rules and rugby league for a market share.
"We've got to continue to earn our stripes and the A-League is well-placed but it's clearly not where the other competitions are but over time it will move into a more popular position."
O'Neill said a healthy A-League was one part of a "pyramid" that was the key to successful Australian football, the other two being the grassroots level of the sport, and the national team.
FOOTBALL Federation Australia is "ready, willing and able" to wear some of the cost of bringing home overseas-based Australia stars to play in the A-League.
Clubs would pay half the player's salary and the FFA the rest in proposals under consideration by the governing body, FFA chief executive John O'Neill said today.
While two veteran Socceroos have come home this season - defender Tony Vidmar expected to announce an A-League move from the Netherlands this week and ex-Birmingham City midfield player Stan Lazaridis already at Perth Glory - a third, Tony Popovic, is bound for the Middle East.
Defender Popovic, 33, who played against Brazil in last month's World Cup, this week switched from English Championship outfit Crystal Palace to Qatari club Al-Arabi.
The Popovic move prompted Newcastle United Jets coach Nick Theodorakopoulos to yesterday call for the FFA to consider a central contracting system to lure home star players, who could then be farmed out to A-League clubs.
While O'Neill did not go as far as advocating central contracts, he said the idea had "merit" and that the FFA was looking at a system of top-up payments to achieve the same end.
"We are ready, willing and able within the confines of our current financial position to provide a top-up for some of the Socceroos who might come home," O'Neill told Sydney Radio 2KY.
"For some time now (FFA chairman) Frank Lowy in particular has wanted to repatriate Socceroos and to create a bit of a 'fighting fund' if you like to ensure if we can get them back and if a club can afford, say, half their salary then the FFA can provide the rest."
With the second A-League season little more than a month away, O'Neill said he had two main yardsticks to measure success this year: increased match attendance and financial stability for the eight franchises - which would be helped by an injection of television money from Fox Sports.
"I think we averaged 11,000 (attendance) last year, it would be nice to be up to around 15,000 this coming season," O'Neill said.
"A number of clubs struggled financially... so I think we've got to be very acutely conscious that every club becomes financially sustainable.
"The new broadcasting deal done with Fox Sports really enables the FFA to subsidise the clubs to the tune of about $1.5 million each per year."
Although football's popularity soared thanks to Australia's exploits in Germany, O'Neill conceded it was now "back to reality", saying the sport had its work cut out if was to seriously rival Australian rules and rugby league for a market share.
"We've got to continue to earn our stripes and the A-League is well-placed but it's clearly not where the other competitions are but over time it will move into a more popular position."
O'Neill said a healthy A-League was one part of a "pyramid" that was the key to successful Australian football, the other two being the grassroots level of the sport, and the national team.