It was unclear how the new A-League model, which is still only in a draft stage and has to be affirmed by further meetings and an FFA board review, would treat the development of A-League youth.
The current set-up has been widely criticised, as South East Asia's increasing investment into youth development balances with the A-League's comparatively small number of Australian clubs, restricting professional pathways for young Australian footballers.
However in their draft blueprint for an independent A-League released a few weeks ago, the APFCA (A-League club representative body) called for an annual review with an intention of increasing the league's foreign player allowance.
In commenting on the issue, the New Leagues Working Group quoted a submission from Socceroos and Olyroos coach, Graham Arnold.
"In respect of the Korea match, Graham informed the Chair that the (Olyroos fixture against South Korea) was against “a powerhouse in Asia...” and that “a minor miracle has happened," the report said.
"Great kids that don’t play weekly at their clubs with so much energy." (Arnold) made the point that “we must feed the pot from underneath and do everything we can to make it happen for the good of the next 4 years and the future of the Socceroos”
"At the same time, he also expressed concern about the lack of resources and lack of fitness, as in his view the players do not have enough game time at their clubs."
The New Leagues Working Group - an independent commission - and an eventual FFA review must balance submissions from not just Arnold and the AFPCA, but the Professional Footballer's Association as well (the footballer's union).
"The PFA strongly advocated to the NLWG that the Board of the Professional Leagues entity be an independent commission with an independent Board of directors, rather than have representatives appointed by the Clubs," the report continued.
"The Clubs view is that they are all personally invested in currently loss-making club licences and that their cumulative losses in some cases extends to many tens of millions of dollars per club. The Clubs feel strongly that the right to appoint directors should absolutely rest with the owners of those clubs.
“We must shift the perception of youth development being a cost...to becoming an investment.” The decline in consistent and growing transfer values of Australian players, our lack of international success at age group level and the drop in Australian men playing in the world’s leading competitions are testament to the lost opportunity.“
Ironically, the PFA's submission highlighted, as its own area of focus, the need for unity in Australian football.
"Football’s network is significant, but its unity of purpose is negligible and its core weakness is the fragmentation and disconnect that exists within the critical mass," the PFA's submission said.
"From global fan to local participant; From local participant to local fan; From community club to professional club; From social player to community club; from Futsal to outdoor; from talented youngster to our National Teams."
Bright words, but given the myriad of potentially opposing interests at stake, a growing stoush may lie ahead...
