Frank Farina: We must find a way to increase investment in youth development

They say you can’t keep a good man down and in the life of Frank Farina, former Socceroo striker and head coach, football is like oxygen - he can’t live without it.

Frank Farina’s Comeback – For the Love of the Game.

They say you can’t keep a good man down and in the life of Frank Farina, former Socceroo striker and head coach, football is like oxygen – he can’t live without it.



Farina first emerged as star quality when he scored the equalising goal for the Young Socceroos against Mexico in their 1-1 all draw at Azteca Stadium in 1983. This all in front of 110,000 fanatical home supporters.

Farina’s career up to 1998 is well chronicled  in his biography, “ My World is Round”, but it was only in 2016 that he completed his last coaching assignment in Fiji.

The scorer of 145 goals in 336 senior matches in Australia and abroad, speaks volumes for his lethal striking.

Recently, Farina joined the First X1 which was assembled by the FFA  as an advisory panel to recommend measures to improve the game .

Also, he is hoping to take up the position of technical director for the Charles Perkins Academy when Macarthur Bulls start in the next A-League season.

Frank Farina is committed to leaving a legacy for Australian football and in this interview with Roger Sleeman, he reveals his enduring passion for our game.

ROGER SLEEMAN

You were part of the class of 1983 which competed so well  in the Mexico World Youth Cup, playing alongside such legends as Rod Brown, Rene Licata, David Lowe, Jim Patikas, Tom McCulloch, Danny Wright and Tony Franken to mention a few.

Apart from Tony Franken and Jim Patikas, most of the squad aren’t involved in the game to any extent.

Why?

FRANK FARINA

It certainly was a great squad and our win against the European champions, Scotland, who boasted some amazing talent in future stars, Paul McStay, Brian McClair, Dave McPherson, Pat Nevin and Eric Black,  was one which will live forever in my mind.

Les Scheinflug and Raoul Blanco seemed like tough coaches at the time as they instilled their discipline on the team. Yet, in hindsight, we learned to see the game in a professional way.

After the players finished their football careers, the professionalism of the game was not so advanced so they had to seek opportunities outside of football.

The passion remained but the chances to remain in the game were limited so many of them pursued business interests with great success.

ROGER SLEEMAN

You were selected in the First X1 by the FFA and apart from discussion about a transfer system, what else has been achieved?

FRANK FARINA

We recently had a long discussion about the women’s game and how it can be used as a catalyst to promote the game in all areas.

However, it’s early days and the main concentration is to identify strengths and weaknesses  and collect facts so we can make informed recommendations to the Board.

ROGER SLEEMAN

Do you communicate with Brisbane Roar, or have they approached you to provide advice and be involved with the club?

FRANK FARINA

Unfortunately, I haven’t and naturally a lot of people have moved on since I was coaching at the club.

Nevertheless, I still watch their progress closely.

ROGER SLEEMAN

Did you have any contact with Robbie Fowler while he was at the Roar?

FRANK FARINA

No, because he had his own people there.

As a coach, you live and die by your decisions and often the staff you select will have a major impact on the final outcome.

It’s a shame he didn’t remain at the club because the team definitely improved under his management.

ROGER SLEEMAN

What is your opinion of Dylan Wentzel-Halls?

FRANK FARINA

He improved out of sight this season as he increased his speed over 10-15 metres .

Also, rather than coming back on his right foot from the left, he is now running at players with pace and taking them on both ways.

If he can keep this improvement up, he will have a great future.

ROGER SLEEMAN

What is the current status of your proposed appointment as  the technical director of the Charles Perkins Academy at the Macarthur Bulls?

FRANK FARINA

With the departure of Football Director, Ken Stead, and when the major backer, Lang Walker left the club, my position became unclear.

With the rise of COVID-19 and the uncertainty surrounding the next A-League season commencement, I’m in limbo.

However, I’m in regular contact with Sam Krslovic and Gino Marra so hopefully something positive will transpire.

ROGER SLEEMAN

In the A-League, there are specialist goalkeeper coaches, but no striker coaches.

Why can’t people like you and Marshall Soper be employed in such roles?

FRANK FARINA

I’ve never seen striker coaches as such but I believe they’re  used in Germany, according to Marshall Soper who was at Kaiserslauten in January.

I certainly agree with the concept because finishing is a speciality but today the game has evolved into a total team structure.

If you’re playing a pressing game, dropping off or playing counter attacking football, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a striker, midfielder or defender, you are asked to occupy multiple roles.

ROGER SLEEMAN

At the moment we have coaches, particularly in technical positions, who have never played the game at a high level.

How can somebody coach at a high level when they haven’t played at a high level?

FRANK FARINA

Regarding this issue, I’ve had a problem with the coaching curriculum over the past ten years because people are obtaining Pro Diplomas who haven’t excelled at a playing level. What’s more they’re actually getting the jobs.

It’s a bit like a surgeon who gains his qualifications without ever operating.

I find the whole thing bizarre and I believe the curriculum in a nutshell is the basis of the problem.

There are different opinions on coaching but if you don’t agree with the curriculum, opportunities are limited.

The game in this country is producing robots and the fact is, they’re aren’t enough successful, former players engaged in key coaching roles.

ROGER SLEEMAN

You were a totally two sided player and during last season, I analysed that only 10% of A-League players were competent on both feet.

How can we change this situation?

FRANK FARINA

I only started using my left side at the age of thirteen because I had a problem with my right ankle and wanted to reduce the weight on my right side.

The coaching of young players at grass roots is critical and often they don’t receive adequate skills training by the time they’re fourteen which is the time tactical awareness needs to be introduced.

Also, you have to ask how much time is spent with the ball by young players, away from training and games.

ROGER SLEEMAN

Many of the games we see in senior football are dominated by the ball being played backwards and across the backline, whereas in your playing days, you looked to play it forward.

How can this be corrected?

FRANK FARINA

Once again it comes back to the curriculum which emphasises possession football.

A team can have 70% of possession while making 20-30 passes back and across the park but they’re not doing anything to hurt their opponents.

In rugby league, 70-80% of possession means a team will win easily, while in our game, 90% of possession doesn’t guarantee a team winning if they don’t get enough into forward areas to maximise scoring chances.

The curriculum drums into coaches’ heads to play the ball out from the back but there’s a right and a wrong time to do it.

For example, if you’re 1-0 down, are you still going to play out from the back?

ROGER SLEEMAN

The FFA Board has members with no football background.

Why aren’t we involving people like Jack Reilly, Danny Moulis, Glen Sterrey, Gary Marocchi and Peter Katholos who have achieved major success in business and football?

FRANK FARINA

The answer is simple.

If they’ve put their hands up, these people are all worthy to sit on the Board.

ROGER SLEEMAN

In a recent interview, you stated lack of money was a major problem in our game, particularly with youth development.

Before the recent 70% culling of staff  at the FFA, there were as many as 105 people engaged as employees and contractors.

Also, there were significant bonuses and a large wages bill paid for the Asian Cup.

Your comment.

FRANK FARINA

If money is going to the wrong areas, you have to correct that.

You only have to see the resources invested in Asian football to see how successful the game can be. Therefore, in Australia we must find a way to increase the investment in youth development and the game will boom.

ROGER SLEEMAN

You were part of a magnificent era which produced so many players who achieved at a high level overseas.

When will these legends of the game be recognised?

FRANK FARINA

I’ve always said ,to know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been and that includes experiencing the highs and lows.

Before James Johnson was appointed CEO, the people in charge were the wrong fit for the game.

Also, the Dutch coaches predicted we would see the fruits of their efforts realised in 10-12 years but it hasn’t happened.

The success of the 2006 World Cup squad was the result of the investment in local players from the late 1980’s but at the moment our national team resembles nothing.

Therefore, the game has to provide more involvement and opportunity for former players to return and contribute, so some semblance of the glory days can be restored.

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Melbourne Victory’s brand-new infrastructure strategy

Melbourne Victory & SEDA

A-League giant Melbourne Victory has revealed a brand-new extensive infrastructure strategy to foster and support tomorrow’s footballing stars.

The strategic infrastructure plan set out by Victory will aim to develop youth and women’s football programs by providing improved access to world class footballing facilities and player pathways across Victoria.

To achieve this, Melbourne Victory has opted for a campus model to enable players access to connected and consistent facilities across the North, East, South and West of Melbourne, all within an hour’s journey of Victory’s club administrative centre and the A-League Men’s training facilities at Gosch’s Paddock.

The club also intends to build another campus within the Melbourne city centre, with the first campus location to be announced by the club soon, as it continues to review and assess possible sites across the city.

Melbourne Victory Chairman, John Dovaston, explained why the club had chosen the campus model.

“The announcement of this project, and the direction taken, is aimed at ensuring we are best placed to attract and retain football talent across the State,” he said in a press release.

“Our innovative approach will allow us to have a number of campuses with not only an elite focus, but also, an eye on building our community to ensure that all Victorians have an opportunity to participate and engage in our game.”

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the new infrastructure strategy was so important to the club.

“It is well understood that sport and football can influence social cohesion, and it’s our responsibility as a Club to establish infrastructure and programs that can positively impact members of the community, regardless of gender, background or location, whether that be through training the next generation of football stars, or using football as a vehicle to lead, unite, connect and inspire the community more broadly,” she said via press release.

“By enabling Victory to connect with communities across the North, South, East, and West of AAMI Park, our spiritual home, we can truly grow the Victory family and set new standards for elite facilities in our Pathway and community programs.”

The infrastructure project is an important move for the club, allowing it to grow, improve and future-proof its current suite of footballing programs. Currently, Victory operates nine elite and 23 pathway programs, providing services to over 16,000 participants across Victoria. Through the campus model, the club hopes it will be able to more efficiently develop the new generation of A-League and national team players.

“The priority is to provide not just an entry point for individuals to engage and participate in football, but to keep them engaged and provide a holistic journey to grow the Victory family across the State,” Carnegie continued.

“We are excited about the opportunities that the project can provide and the potential for growth for our Club and for football in the future.”

Melbourne Victory will continue to issue updates as it sets on the 5-year-plus journey to complete the entire project. For more information on the club’s major infrastructure strategy, access the plan HERE.

 

PFA issues legal threat to Premier League over new financial rules

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has issued a legal threat to the Premier League, warning of potential legal action if new financial rules are passed without union consultation and approval.

The PFA alleges that the league and its clubs have deliberately withheld critical information about the proposed squad cost rules (SCR) and top-to-bottom anchoring (TBA). These changes, according to the union, could severely impact player wages and club finances.

Legal Warning Over SCR and TBA

The Premier League and its 20 clubs voted on the proposed rules during a meeting on 13 February. In a letter addressed to the league and its stakeholders, the PFA’s legal team stated they “anticipate being instructed to commence legal proceedings” if the rules are approved without adequate consultation with the union.

The union has demanded a written guarantee from the league by 4 pm on 11 February, confirming its intention to fully consult the PFA on the matter. Failure to do so will also trigger legal action.

The PFA described the proposed squad cost rules and top-to-bottom anchoring system as “fundamentally flawed” and expressed deep concerns about their potential consequences for players and clubs alike.

What Are the SCR and TBA?

The squad cost rules (SCR) would limit clubs to spending a maximum of 85 per cent of their revenue on squad-related expenses, aligning with similar rules introduced by UEFA. From next season, UEFA plans to reduce its revenue-to-spending cap to 70 per cent for clubs involved in its competitions.

The top-to-bottom anchoring (TBA) system, however, is more contentious. It would enforce a strict cap on how much a club can spend on squad costs, calculated as five times the amount received by the club earning the least from central Premier League funds.

Critics, including the PFA, argue that TBA effectively introduces an indirect cap on player salaries. Some clubs, such as Manchester United and Manchester City, have also expressed opposition to the proposal, fearing it would weaken their ability to compete with elite European teams.

Accusations of Withholding Information

The PFA has accused the Premier League of failing to follow proper consultation protocols, which are required for any matters impacting player wages or conditions.

Under the rules, the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) must consult with the PFA through the Professional Game Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC). Any changes that affect players cannot proceed without the union’s agreement.

However, the PFA’s lawyers, Mills and Reeve, claim the Premier League missed its own deadline to provide an updated version of the SCR before Christmas. Instead, clubs received the document on 9 January—too late for meaningful discussions during a PFNCC meeting held on 8 January.

The union further alleges it only received the full 87-page SCR manual after an ad-hoc PFNCC meeting on 20 January, despite indications that clubs had access to the document as early as July last year.

PFA’s Position on the Financial Rules

The PFA remains firmly opposed to the introduction of TBA, stating it imposes an unnecessary cap on player wages under the guise of financial regulation.

The union believes such measures are not only unfair to players but also risk undermining the competitiveness of Premier League clubs on the international stage.

In their letter to the Premier League’s legal team at Linklaters, the PFA’s lawyers described the handling of the proposed financial rules as “flagrant breaches” of the league’s obligations to consult with the union.

As the 13 February vote has taken place, the tension between the PFA and the Premier League appears to be escalating, with the prospect of legal proceedings looming should the union’s demands for consultation remain unmet.

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