Outgoing Football Federation Australia CEO Ben Buckley recently said “stability” remains the top priority for the A-League but the PFA warned it was not the time to sideline player welfare.

The current Collective Bargaining Agreement winds up in six months and PFA boss Nick Holland said it leaves little time for discussion once the broadcast deal is announced.

Holland, who travelled to A-League clubs throughout September speaking with players, said he had some concerns that “stability” was code for reining in player entitlements, although he said the FFA hasn’t given any indication that this was the case.

“The message that came from Ben Buckley is that stability is the key – the players are also keen for sustainability,” Holland said.

“The clubs and FFA have done well in attracting the best players to the game and we’ve got to continue to do that.

“What’s been shown is that by getting the marquee players and having the best spectacle out on the ground the fans are engaged and this grows the game.

“And if it’s about growing the game then making sure the players’ conditions are protected attracts top players to the game which in turn grows the game.”

Latest reports suggest a four-year $160 million broadcast deal with Fox Sports and SBS is imminent. Combined with a 20 percent increase in attendances, an 11 percent jump in club memberships and improved sponsorships deals, the game has never looked so healthy.

Holland said: “I know there are lots of things that have to fall into place – you have to look at the financials and everything – but to bring it back to its simplest form, if you get good players on the field you engage the community and get more fans, you get more people wanting to watch the sport, more sponsorship dollars come through and TV rights increase.

"The first step is making sure the individuals who are building the spectacle are looked after.”

He said it was paramount the league offered a genuine and stable career path, including investment in player education and development as well as basic protections such as contract security and insurance in the event of injury.

In the case of the latter, he said, “good ground” had been made with the FFA procuring marquee insurance cover in the wake of the Jason Culina injury crisis that saw a messy culpability tug-of-war between Newcastle Jets, the now defunct Gold Coast United and FFA.

“Taking care of these issues is vital not only for the players but will undoubtedly accelerate the success of football in this country,” Holland said.

It was too early to say what if any demands players would be making in the light of an improved financial landscape, Holland said, but a “fair and equitable share of game revenue” was important as was up-skilling players for life after football.

“We haven’t been able to sit down and talk about salary levels or these other issues because there has been a focus on the broadcast deal,” Holland said.

“We thought it would have been done by now, (FFA) have been briefing us and we believe it’s just around the corner. The current agreement runs out at the end of April 2013 so we want to start that conversation now.

“Players are excited and keen to give their best to grow the game. They know the A-League competition is a young competition. It’s an important time for the sport of football and they’re prepared to assist in growing the game.”