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No doubt, by now, you’ve heard the news out of Newcastle that the Hunter Sports Group, headed up by mining magnate Nathan Tinkler, have handed back their A-League licence to the FFA effective immediately. And no doubt, by now, you’ve heard the FFA state that the Hunter Sports Group are breaching their club participation agreement by doing so. And no doubt, by now, you’ve heard about the issues the Hunter Sports Group have with the FFA that led to this point. In particular, their concern over the stability and sustainability of the A-League club financial model.

Now, the issues surrounding the A-League’s financial model are by the by, and the fact that Buckley and the FFA have acknowledged, in consultation with the ownerships of all A-League clubs, that it needs revising and improving is a positive step. Because it’s pretty clear that with the failings of private ownership in both North Queensland and Gold Coast, as well … Continue Reading

It ain’t over till the fat lady sings, or perhaps in this case, the fat man. This week, Gold Coast United Pty. Ltd. ceased to exist as an A-League franchise after what was dubbed ‘material’ breaches of their contract with the FFA.

This followed a media furore in a week where the club’s head coach was sacked, the owner came out and decried football not as good as Rugby League.

What a change this is from the heady heights of three years ago when owner Clive Palmer came out and said that his glamour club would have full stadiums, capture the championship in its first year, and complete the season undefeated.

So just three years after expansion clubs Gold Coast United and North Queensland Fury joined the fold, the FFA, despite their insistence that they are still looking for options to field a Gold Coast team in next years A-League competition, are staring down the possibility of a … Continue Reading