Sage cites the acquisition of an Auckland franchise by American billionaire Bill Foley, and likely entry into the competition next season of a Canberra expansion club, as reasons for optimism amid concerns over several questionable management decisions made by the APL since it’s hard-fought war of independence with Football Australia.

Savage impending cutbacks - which include the likely axing of the APL’s $40 million plus digital media platform KeepUp - have set off alarm bells over the sustainability of its self governance model.

However Sage - stripped of his Glory licence after a crippling $17 million loss over three seasons left him unable to further fund the club - still believes in the viability of the domestic game under the stewardship of the APL.

Against a backdrop of Glory’s ongoing search for a new owner, Sage told FTBL: “People can come to their own conclusions - but when you look at it circumstances haven’t been kind to the APL, with Covid coming along just as they assumed control and really decimating the finances of most clubs.

“For me, personally, it was most unfortunate but also for the league as a whole. A lot of what has transpired for the league is bad luck in terms of moving from the Football Australia era to the APL era at the worst possible time, rather than bad management.

“I’d still be the Glory owner of it wasn’t for Covid (restrictions and financial squeeze) and the issue of being kicked into a 3000 capacity stadium for which we could only sell 2,500 tickets. We basically lost $17 million in three seasons.

“In different circumstances I’d put my money where my mouth is and buy of an A-League club. I still have faith in the competition long term.”

Viewed by some as a maverick by some during his flamboyant 15-year ownership reign, Sage’s exoneration of the APL might irk many fans, case in point the divisive - and since reversed decision - to move the grand final to Sydney in a wildly unpopular cash grab.

He remains bullish, though, adding: “If I was in a position to I would buy Glory again. I still love the club but we lost all support from the WA government (which has since promised $7 in aid to potential new owners) and that didn’t help at all.

“I’m now back concentrating on my new mining ventures but of course I still follow everything and it’s sad what’s happening to the club and now the league.

“But there’s a bigger picture - the Socceroos and Matildas are very marketable and what we’re seeing now with the league might be a form of growing pains.

“I still think the A-League will ultimately prove successful, the fact that Bournemouth owner Bill Foley has invested $25 million in a license is indicative of the faith he has. I’m sure he’s done a deep dive into the game here and likes what he’s seen.”

The APL has undergone a recent shake up with ex-CEO Danny Townsend accepting a job in Saudi Arabia and chairman Paul Lederer stepping aside, whilst one time federal minister Stephen Conroy is now chairman flanked by executives Nick Garcia and James Rushton.

The failure of last weekend’s Unite Round - the A-Leagues’ answer to the NRL’s Magic Round - provided a grim reminder of where the game is at.

Just 47,425 watched the 12 matches played across the men’s and women’s competitions, exemplifying the disconnect between supporters and the product they’re being asked to pay for.

In a statement on the staff cuts, the APL said: “In the three years since unbundling, APL has implemented a strategy that has seen a period of rapid growth across our business.

“With the original three year strategy coming to an end, a planned full strategic and commercial review has taken place over the last several months.

“The review has identified significant opportunities to create efficiencies through consolidation and this necessitates an organisational restructure that is now underway.

“APL's priorities remain the same - to deliver commercial growth and sustainability by creating the most exciting competitions possible for our fans - with strong teams producing great young players across Australia and New Zealand."