Failure to launch: Football Australia’s mooted national second division in doubt
By Vince Rugari
Football Australia’s national second division is set to be scrapped – at least in its proposed format – due to a shortage of suitable teams and the looming prospect of a more hands-on role with the cash-strapped A-Leagues.
The ambitious second-tier competition was set to launch in 2025, featuring 10 to 14 clubs playing a home-and-away season run through the winter months, and with no immediate link to the A-League Men.
But only eight ‘foundation’ clubs were unveiled when FA announced the second division in November last year, and according to sources familiar with planning for the competition, who were not authorised to speak publicly, a recent process has failed to find the additional two to four clubs FA believes it needs to get that structure off the ground.
Another factor is the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the A-Leagues, and the increasing possibility of FA having to, at some point, divert or share resources with the embattled Australian Professional Leagues to keep the domestic scene alive in Australia – resources that might otherwise be eaten up by supporting a second, entirely separate national men’s club competition.
FA remains committed to running some form of second tier in 2025, and has long floated a ‘Champions League-style’ model as an alternative, in which clubs would remain in their respective state NPLs and play additional matches between those fixtures, akin to cup competitions. However, clubs are not supportive of such an idea and want to play in their own league.
FA’s board will consider the matter at a meeting on Thursday, with clubs bracing for news that their desired format will not receive the green light.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson and Natalie Lutz, FA’s since-departed head of professional football and competitions, with representatives of the second division’s eight foundation clubs.Credit: Getty
FA was approached for comment.
The second division concept has wide support within the sport, both as a way to unite the ‘old soccer’ and ‘new football’ tribes and provide greater opportunities for players, coaches and clubs, although financial viability – particularly at a time when the A-Leagues are struggling so much – has always been a bone of contention.
The federation has gone as far as trademarking a name – the ‘Australian Championship’ – and associated imagery for the second tier, which was revealed to clubs at a meeting last week. It was at the same meeting that FA provided them with an update which, according to one club source, left them “deflated but not defeated” about their hopes of a home-and-away format happening in 2025.
A possible compromise solution, which has not been floated widely but is believed to have some support within FA, is to add existing A-League teams to the ‘Champions League-style’ second division, which would essentially be a more exclusive version of the existing Australia Cup. Those who support this idea believe it would give FA something tangible to sell to sponsors and broadcasters in the short term which could be built upon in future years and eventually expanded to the singular league that clubs desire.
James Johnson at the launch of the second division in November 2023.Credit: Getty
APIA Leichhardt, Avondale FC, Marconi, Preston Lions, South Melbourne, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58 and Wollongong Wolves are the eight ‘foundation’ clubs who cleared the high financial bar set by FA to be involved with the new competition.
However, all of those clubs come from NSW and Victoria; attempts to find clubs from other parts of Australia during a second application phase run by FA this year have turned up only one other possible entrant, also from Victoria, while FA has concerns over the viability of one or two of the foundation clubs, sources say.
The second application phase was due for completion last month, but that deadline has passed without any updates from the governing body.
The APL is not involved with planning or preparations for the second division, although their previous leadership last year floated a rough model for promotion and relegation with them as a talking point.
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