Neither the North Queensland Thunder nor the Gold Coast Galaxy will join the A-League in 2008/09. The A-League will remain an 8-team competition for another season.
While the Galaxy’s bid to join looked promising, North Queensland’s efforts at securing a place next season started to crack last week. The Thunder lost the financial backing of Millissa Fischer, without whom their bid just didn’t float. So they were out.
For the Galaxy, who had players and a coach ready to go, the FFA’s decision to scrap expansion for the time being will be disappointing. It will also be disappointing for A-League fans looking forward to a longer season.
But a nine-team A-League would have been awkward, with one team forced to have a bye each week. And as The Football Tragic points out, the introduction of the Youth League next season makes it hard for the FFA to provide extra financial backing for the new teams.
Personally, I’m one of those A-League fans who is disappointed. This 21-round season we have is simply too short. But from a logistical point of view, I’m inclined to agree with The Football Tragic’s argument that the FFA’s decision was the wisest, considering the circumstances.
Unlike Michael Cockerill, I don’t think it’s a now or never situation. Cockerill is right to point out that the A-League’s popularity is at an all-time high. But is there anything to suggest that its momentum will wane if expansion doesn’t happen? The A-League has grown in popularity each year - something’s telling me it will continue to do so next season, even without two more Queensland teams.
What do you think of the FFA’s decision to delay expansion of the A-League?
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3 responses so far ↓
1 Astri // Mar 14, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I was looking forward to 2 new regional teams and a longer season. As long as the FFA stay away from Melbourne town I’m happy.
2 Brenton // Mar 14, 2008 at 5:24 pm
its dissapointing cause we were all looking forward to extra games but think of it like this, would you rather have 1 or 2 new teams now for maybe 1 or 2 seasons and then have one of them drop out because they werent prepared properly in the first place? or would you rather wait 1 more season and have them cement there place in the league in version 5, i know id go for the later.
and yes the ffa should stray away from melbourne for another team, but id love to see another vic team, i heard something about geelong which i think would be great!
3 Astri // Mar 15, 2008 at 9:14 am
Geelong would work but they would have to play in the new stadium in Melbourne because the FFA will want a game every week in Melbourne. Whoever comes in, they will not match Victory.
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