The Football Business Network and Football Coaches Australia present a ‘Talking Football’ virtual networking event with Craig Moore

A dynamic and progressive sporting organisation is responding to the current demand for on-line content and the need for the football community to remain connected and engaged whilst the on-field action is halted.

The Football Business Network will host a virtual networking event on Friday April 3rd at 6pm, featuring former Glasgow Rangers, Socceroo and Brisbane Roar defender Craig Moore. The modern Australian footballing great will appear live, answering questions from a digital audience and reflect on the current crisis that threatens the immediate future of football both domestically and internationally.

There is also scope for broader issues to be raised, with the Socceroos, Olyroos, coaching, player development and Australia’s current position in Asia, likely topics on the agenda.

The event is jointly presented by Football Coaches Australia; the voice for coaches around the country, and aims to bring football back to the people for at least an hour, as the round ball game continues in indefinite hiatus for at least the short term future.

Click here to secure your registration for the free event

CEO of the Football Business Network James Boyle has once again displayed his progressive and experimental thinking by morphing modern technology, the fans and the demanding situation in which we all find ourselves at the current time. The result should be a dynamic, unique and ground-breaking event for Australian football, with one of its finest appearing and responding to the questions raised.

Boyle birthed the network in 2018 in an attempt to provide business executives and football people the chance to network in a relaxed and informal setting, as well as providing opportunities for businesses to expand their brand through sponsorship and marketing opportunities.

I can vouch for the quality and organisation of the events held thus far, having attended the inaugural event in Sydney in late 2018. On that night, current Rydalmere FC manager and former Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow Rangers and Scottish International Gavin Rae spoke eloquently when responding to questions from fans, journalists and business executives. The network also hosted a Q and A event featuring Socceroo coach Graham Arnold in 2019.

On this occasion it will be the turn of one of Australia’s greatest modern players to reflect on the state of the game, its limitations and the likely direction it will take in the future; particularly considering the current global situation.

Moore played 175 games with Rangers across two spells at the club, spent time with Newcastle United and Crystal Palace in the UK and also played 62 times in the A-League for Brisbane Roar in what was a storied and heralded career.

As a member of the 2006 World Cup squad, the Sydney born defender will forever live in the annals of the Australian game; converting a penalty against Croatia that aided the Socceroos’ advancement to the knock-out phase of the tournament.

Always a forthright, honest and knowledgeable leader, Moore’s openness and passion for the domestic game will meld perfectly with an expectant and enthusiastic audience, keen to hear what the 42-year-old has to say about the game in 2020 and the future direction it is likely to take.

Once registered, attendees need only follow the instructions provided in a confirmation email and join the meeting at 6pm on Friday the 3rd of April. The discussion is expected to run for an hour yet overtime seems likely with registrations building as the date draws nearer.

It should be a fantastic event, offering support for the football community during an undoubtedly stressful time, whilst also providing an opportunity to listen to one of the best players ever to wear the famous Socceroo kit.

 

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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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