In the wake of South Melbourne’s failure to claim one of the two licenses that would allow them to participate in the A-League, the head of the club’s effort Bill Papastergiadis was featured on the “Morning with Brett Phillips” radio show.
Papastergiadis pointed out that his club ticked out all the boxes that the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) set as requirements towards all clubs participating in the expansion process (training facilities, youth club, sponsorship, followers and a stadium) and contrary to popular belief, he and his team were confident up until the very end of the procedure that they would be the ones selected to play in the top ranks of Australian Football.
He added that he didn’t comprehend the way with which the final decision was made “Considering our bid, we should have been at the top, we should have been selected. So I’ve had difficulty digesting how the decision was made. I’ve had difficulty understanding the role of other participants outside of the bidders in whatever decision might have been made.
And I think that, for the purposes of the game going forward and because it is not in the healthiest state as we see in terms of viewership numbers and also attendance numbers, it requires transparency and an open process towards all of the bidders to ensure that they continue to contribute to the game.”
When asked if he believes that he is fighting a losing battle, considering the former national Soccer League (NSL) clubs are becoming a thing of the past and no longer have a place in the way things are moving forward within the sport in Australia, Mr Papastergiadis offered an alternate point of view:
“I think it’ll be the opposite. Even though the club is struggling at the moment because of the current model, the franchise model itself has only been partly successful.
Fourteen years subsequent to when the A-League was set up, we’re now in a situation where average attendances are plummeting, viewership on Foxtel is certainly not healthy and there is a desire from the supporters and the spectators, whether they’re supporters of South (Melbourne) or not, for real derbies with real clubs.
For clubs with history, with passion, and clubs that can drive interest, whether you love them or you hate them, and that’s what sport is about.
It’s about true, competitive tension among clubs that are existing and real. I believe they’re the only ones that can bring that to a competition.”
In closing, Mr Papastergiadis stressed the need for a second division and relegation/promotion in order for competition between teams to increase.
