The new issue of FourFourTwo magazine won't be well received at Football Federation Australia offices - and I'm not referring to the Tim Cahill-loving Everton sympathisers bemoaning the cover that proclaims the rise of 'New Liverpool'.

I am, of course, referring to the 2011 Fan Census results, which delivered the following results:

- 58.1 per cent of those polled don't believe the FFA has done a good job administering football in Australia.

- 81 per cent don't think the FFA listen to the needs of the fans.

- 83 per cent don't believe the FFA has supporters' interests as a primary focus.

- Over 76 per cent blamed the FFA for the demise of North Queensland Fury.

They're some pretty stark numbers stacked against the FFA, and reflect the general mood of discontent that's been on display in blogs, forums and in A-League terraces. And despite all the reassurances from the FFA's new Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs Kyle Patterson, Frank Lowy and Ben Buckley that have appeared in numerous print and online media, the numbers suggest the majority of fans don't believe the FFA can steer Australian football through this challenging period.

Consider the environment in which the census was conducted; coming off the back of what many consider the best A-League season in the competition's history, yet with the wounds of the failed World Cup bid, the stillborn Sydney Rovers, the demise of North Queensland, falling A-League crowds and concern around the next television deal still fresh.   

Whether some of those developments can be glossed over and attributed to a consolidating period the game has to have to streamline the A-League is debatable, but if the fans don't have faith in the governing body, then where do we go from here?

The perception is growing that the FFA is a failing body, and, sadly for the governing body, that perception seems to be seeping so far into mindsets that it will difficult for them to reverse. To put it simply, the FFA is coming across as a failing political party clinging to its power in the face of overwhelming opposition, with every negative development attributed to their governance.

It's going to be difficult for the FFA to change this perception unless there are significant positive developments for the game in the eyes of fans. But the reality is the A-League is in for a period of consolidation. It's very unlikely there'll be a mega television deal with a significant free-to-air television component, nor new clubs on the horizon as expansion is put on the backburner (if anything we could see the A-League revert to nine teams depending on Gold Coast United's future), and there won't be a World Cup on our shores, unless Fifa's corruption investigations lead to a 2018-2022 recount.

Perhaps football fans in this country, which see the game rule around the world and not in their backyard, need to curb their expectations and not burden the game and the FFA with unrealistic expectations.

From an FFA perspective, fan forums, interaction and being seen to act on suggestions are a start to try and negate this negativity. The October start to the next A-League season is an example of the governing body acknowledging the wider mood. If that proves to be a success in terms of early season traction and crowd figures, let's hope the same fans that pan the FFA have it in them to acknowledge a positive move.

And perhaps the hiring of Patterson, who is perceived as a football man given his history with SBS and its football coverage, will give the FFA a new public face who fans can trust as someone who has the game's best interests at heart. While the FFA would never acknowledge it, this is an issue with the AFL-groomed Buckley.

Let's hope those census figures are reversed come 2012, through positive moves from the FFA and fans realigning their expectations of the governing body.