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http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/ffa-takes-control-of-adelaide-and-roar/2009/05/01/1240982413666.html
FFA takes control of Adelaide and Roar
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Sebastian Hassett
May 2, 2009
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FOOTBALL Federation Australia is to take control of struggling A-League clubs Adelaide United and Queensland Roar but insists the decision does not indicate there are questions over the long-term health of either team.
With an ownership vacuum at both clubs, the FFA has been left with little choice and will next week ratify the decision and take temporary stakes while new investors are sought.
New A-League chief Archie Fraser told the Herald yesterday that while the governing body preferred clubs to have stable ownership structures in place, top-level intervention should not be seen as a disaster.
"We are not looking at this outcome as a crisis decision or that these two are problem clubs," Fraser said. "What has occurred is that both clubs have been unable to find suitable investors to take a controlling stake, and if that means we have to help out, we're willing to accept the responsibility.
"Obviously we'd like the clubs to find some new investors but we won't be rushing into that. We're willing to wait until we find the right investors and then we'll be comfortable to hand control back."
It's almost three years to the day that the FFA was forced to take similar action with Perth Glory - a club which the governing body has high hopes for under the new leadership of mining entrepreneur Tony Sage.
While the FFA's involvement will be viewed as a warning sign by some, Fraser is not only confident of finding investors but says it could mark an invaluable opportunity for the FFA to understand the conditions of how clubs operate. "Never before has there been such an important time for us to appreciate the working environment of our clubs," Fraser said. "We are about to enter back-to-back stages of expansion and we need to get a full understanding of the challenges they face.
"We'll bring in the best people we can to support each of these two clubs and then we'll get a first-hand view of what club life is like. We need to see what costs they face and what issues they're dealing with. We can then use that information to help them and other clubs plan for the future."
Fraser said while Adelaide's operation required little tweaking, he was hoping "fresh energy" could be brought into Queensland Roar - who will be renamed Brisbane Roar next week.
"Adelaide have a strong organisational structure and all that will be happening there will be a basic change of ownership from the Bianco family, who have made an outstanding contribution to football," he said. "With Queensland, it's a little more complicated because Lawrence [Oudendyk] has moved on as CEO.
"It's a good time for a change there because we'd like to help them get back on track and we're confident that can be achieved under our guidance."
Fraser has defended the FFA's decision to expand the finals competition from four to six teams. "We know there is an outside chance that a team could win it from fifth or six, but they would have to win four matches in the finals to become champions," he said.
Fraser also confirmed that Gold Coast United would be able to field another visa player next season after New Zealand international Shane Smeltz was granted Australian citizenship this week
FFA takes control of Adelaide and Roar
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Sebastian Hassett
May 2, 2009
Advertisement
FOOTBALL Federation Australia is to take control of struggling A-League clubs Adelaide United and Queensland Roar but insists the decision does not indicate there are questions over the long-term health of either team.
With an ownership vacuum at both clubs, the FFA has been left with little choice and will next week ratify the decision and take temporary stakes while new investors are sought.
New A-League chief Archie Fraser told the Herald yesterday that while the governing body preferred clubs to have stable ownership structures in place, top-level intervention should not be seen as a disaster.
"We are not looking at this outcome as a crisis decision or that these two are problem clubs," Fraser said. "What has occurred is that both clubs have been unable to find suitable investors to take a controlling stake, and if that means we have to help out, we're willing to accept the responsibility.
"Obviously we'd like the clubs to find some new investors but we won't be rushing into that. We're willing to wait until we find the right investors and then we'll be comfortable to hand control back."
It's almost three years to the day that the FFA was forced to take similar action with Perth Glory - a club which the governing body has high hopes for under the new leadership of mining entrepreneur Tony Sage.
While the FFA's involvement will be viewed as a warning sign by some, Fraser is not only confident of finding investors but says it could mark an invaluable opportunity for the FFA to understand the conditions of how clubs operate. "Never before has there been such an important time for us to appreciate the working environment of our clubs," Fraser said. "We are about to enter back-to-back stages of expansion and we need to get a full understanding of the challenges they face.
"We'll bring in the best people we can to support each of these two clubs and then we'll get a first-hand view of what club life is like. We need to see what costs they face and what issues they're dealing with. We can then use that information to help them and other clubs plan for the future."
Fraser said while Adelaide's operation required little tweaking, he was hoping "fresh energy" could be brought into Queensland Roar - who will be renamed Brisbane Roar next week.
"Adelaide have a strong organisational structure and all that will be happening there will be a basic change of ownership from the Bianco family, who have made an outstanding contribution to football," he said. "With Queensland, it's a little more complicated because Lawrence [Oudendyk] has moved on as CEO.
"It's a good time for a change there because we'd like to help them get back on track and we're confident that can be achieved under our guidance."
Fraser has defended the FFA's decision to expand the finals competition from four to six teams. "We know there is an outside chance that a team could win it from fifth or six, but they would have to win four matches in the finals to become champions," he said.
Fraser also confirmed that Gold Coast United would be able to field another visa player next season after New Zealand international Shane Smeltz was granted Australian citizenship this week
