The outcome of the meetings is among others things - to settle the form and structure of the Men's Premier League Competition for 2011.
All good so far. Its always nice to talk, but far more important that we get outcomes that provide good opportunities for our players, ensure that all games (PL to Pl16) are played on first class playing surfaces, that costs are reduced to particpatiing Clubs, Clubs remain in a helathy financial state, ensure that PL Clubs make robust efforts to develop junior pathways to the Premier League, and that we build the game and all the Clubs within the Premier League. These few things come immediately to mind because they are the ones that get talked about most often on the sidelines and at training among Clubs officials, players and supporters.
Now you may recall that there is also a "Mens League Review" also underway, which is due to report soon.
You would expect the MSAC's advice on the 2011 season and the Review outcomes / recommendations to be consistent, at least in so far as the 2011 season is concerned. But does the MSAC advice for 2011 indicate the "Review" recomendations? I guess we wait and see.
In the meantime, how did the lads on the MSAC do at this years exam?
The advice from the MSAC does little to fill the hearts of some Premier League Clubs with joy. Not sure how they all feel about it. The competition remains at two rounds (Womens PL is at three), so we have less PL competition football than last season, The Federation Cup continues in its tired old form and is offerred as the substitute for a lack f a third round in the PL Competition (there were workable alternatives to include the awarding of the Fed Cup in the PL competition). There is the dubious priviledge of increased entry fes for the Fed Cup (amount not known, just that its going up), which is news Clubs did not need. Start and finish dates and that's it. Wow, the lads had to really work hard for that outcome! I guess the rest is in the review.
What really annoys is that we could have had a longer Premier League competition and that is something we really did need.
These were the options put to the Clubs:
Further to the PL cubs meetings held over the last two nights and the brief overview (details below) of the 2011 competition options discussed, I am seeking your clubs position on the proposals by Wednesday 6 October 2010.
Both options are made on the assumption that there will be nine teams in the Premier League in 2011 and there will be no football over the Easter weekend. The options are only aimed at assisting the short fall in fixtures for 1st Grade.
Option 1:
1st Grade will play three rounds of Home and Away 27 rounds-24 matches and 3 byes
1st round will begin on 12 March and will be completed the Wednesday after Easter. (This round will include 3 mid-week double headers).
The round would utilise the grounds normally available for the Federation Cup and will therefore not be strictly Home/Away
Lower grades will then join in on the first Saturday after Easter and play two rounds on normal club competition.
There will be no weekends off for the remainder of the year apart from the two byes.
Federation Cup may be taken up as a midweek FA cup knock out style competition.
Option 2:
Federation Cup will begin 12 March and will consist of twelve teams (PL clubs plus ANU. Queanbeyan City & White Eagles). It will be split into two pools guaranteeing each club five matches and will be completed prior to Easter. The two pool winners will play off for the Cup Final.
Competition will begin after Easter with two Home and Away rounds 18 rounds (16 matches and 2 byes). There will be no weekends off.
One club may have three weekends off if they do not play in the Cup Final and draw a bye in the 1st round of the competition.
This option will guarantee 1st grade teams with 21 matches over the season.
This is what the MSAC advised yesterday to all PL Clubs:
Thank you to all for your feedback in regards to season 2010 through the recent Premier Clubs meeting.Capital Football Board met on Monday 25 October and the MSAC met on 1 November and I can now confirm the following:
· All existing clubs have had their Premier League licences confirmed until the end of season 2012.
· The Board has accepted the withdrawal of ANU FC and the Premier League competitions will continue with the remaining nine clubs until season 2012 has been completed. Every effort will be made by Capital Football to alleviate any issues in regards to the bye which has been created by the withdrawal of ANU FC.
· The MSAC can now confirm the following in regards to competition structure and dates for season 2011:
Federation Cup will kick off on the weekend of 12 March 2011 and will continue for five weeks for all teams. The final will be on 17 March 2011. The Federation Cup will consist of 12 teams (9 PL plus 3 from SL1). Please note that currently the Federation Cup is not sponsored and there will be no prize money, but the winner will receive a rebate on their entry fee. Capital Football is also reviewing the costs for the Federation Cup and there will be an increase in the entry fee (details will be made available soon).
The Premier League competition will kick off on weekend 30 April 2011 after the Easter weekend. There will be no free weekends unless one of your teams has a bye. PL competition will finish on 21 August 2011 with the Grand Finals on 17 September 2011.
There will be further news covering off on the results from the Mens League Review in the next week.
Well now, what can be said of this situation?
What we have is far too short and the Fed Cup is at best a preseason activity and not a substitute for three rounds in the PL competition. That was the one change that needed to be made and work on that change should have occurred before the start of last season. No pathway for players 17 to 20 years, no club / team campaigning in the NSW Premier League, no A league Youth League option, not enough first rate playing surfaces, no relief to Premier Club on operating costs (registration costs, training field hire etc) and a woefully inadequate number of games in the domestic Premier League competition. In the meantime we lost a Club (ANU) and with it two games in the season format that will be as it was in 2010.
Again, perhaps all the good news is in the Mens Premier League Review report. Hmmmm!
If this Review report is a "pig's ear" for Premier League Football, the Premier League Clubs should mobilise. AS I sat thinking about this, a colleague in Football rings from the other side of the planet, I have a whinge to him and he says -"mate, what if the majority of PL Clubs voted for the status quo." Oh no, in all the excitement I hadn't given that a thought - that's very unnerving. I think I'll do a "Scarlett O'Hara" and think about that one tomorrow or whenever the Review Report is published.
I know one thing for sure - If you do what you always do, you get what you have always got. And so it is again for the Mens Premier League. We are not going forward!
Away the lads!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment