REFORM talks between A-League owners and Football Federation Australia chiefs on Tuesday night reached a stalemate, with negotiations set to continue.
Combative Valentine’s Day discussions lasted over three hours with FFA pledging to reform and indicating a willingness to relinquish some control of the A-League, though club chairmen were left frustrated by a lack of detail.
A day earlier state and territory federations, who hold nine of the 10 votes in the election of the FFA board, agreed it was time for a more democratic process at the summit of Australian soccer.
The A-League clubs released a joint statement Tuesday night declaring nothing had been resolved.
“The critical issues facing the game were discussed including the commitment to expand the FFA congress by the end of March 2017; the future operating model for the A-League and its expansion,’’ the statement said.
“No resolutions on these matters were reached however the APFCA (clubs’ association) members remain committed to a meaningful and transparent process and reaching resolutions.”
FFA has opted to hold separate meetings with the states, A-League clubs and the players’ union, who they’ll meet on Sunday.
A day earlier state and territory federations, who hold nine of the 10 votes in the election of the FFA board, agreed it was time for a more democratic process at the summit of Australian soccer.
The A-League clubs released a joint statement Tuesday night declaring nothing had been resolved.
“The critical issues facing the game were discussed including the commitment to expand the FFA congress by the end of March 2017; the future operating model for the A-League and its expansion,’’ the statement said.
“No resolutions on these matters were reached however the APFCA (clubs’ association) members remain committed to a meaningful and transparent process and reaching resolutions.”
FFA has opted to hold separate meetings with the states, A-League clubs and the players’ union, who they’ll meet on Sunday.
“The meeting discussed the need to change the current operating and ownership structure of the A-League in order to attract more investment and increase the value of the league,’’ an FFA statement said.
“FFA will provide an update on its discussions with stakeholders to its board at a meeting on Saturday.”
The state and territory federations called for the A-League and W-League to have a bigger say in the running of the game.
A-League clubs have just one collective vote, while the women are not represented at all, as the March 31 reform deadline looms.
The states and territories made their position clear to FFA chiefs Steven Lowy and David Gallop in a meeting on Monday before releasing a statement revealing that they would liaise with other stakeholders before expressing their views.
“Member federations came to the meeting with a view that the time is right to expand the congress. FFA expressed the same view,” the statement said.
“Options for expansion were discussed and everyone expressed a desire to work together with all relevant stakeholders to make changes that will benefit everyone in the game.
“Member federations stressed that any change to the current structure needs to recognise the interrelationship between community football, the A-League and W-League and other groups in the football family.
“Member federations will continue discussions with other stakeholders (before) coming to a detailed position prior to an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Congress which is likely by the end of March.’’
Originally published as Lack of FFA detail frustrates A-League clubs
“FFA will provide an update on its discussions with stakeholders to its board at a meeting on Saturday.”
The state and territory federations called for the A-League and W-League to have a bigger say in the running of the game.
A-League clubs have just one collective vote, while the women are not represented at all, as the March 31 reform deadline looms.
The states and territories made their position clear to FFA chiefs Steven Lowy and David Gallop in a meeting on Monday before releasing a statement revealing that they would liaise with other stakeholders before expressing their views.
“Member federations came to the meeting with a view that the time is right to expand the congress. FFA expressed the same view,” the statement said.
“Options for expansion were discussed and everyone expressed a desire to work together with all relevant stakeholders to make changes that will benefit everyone in the game.
“Member federations stressed that any change to the current structure needs to recognise the interrelationship between community football, the A-League and W-League and other groups in the football family.
“Member federations will continue discussions with other stakeholders (before) coming to a detailed position prior to an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Congress which is likely by the end of March.’’
Originally published as Lack of FFA detail frustrates A-League clubs
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