Lowy predicts promotion/relegation in HAL

[Stuckey]

Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy says it's only a matter of time until the A-League expands to a 12-team competition and adopts a system of promotion and relegation.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/ ... tem-league

Wollongong, Canberra, Cairns and south-west Brisbane have been touted as potential homelands for a new A-League club.

I'd love to hear more on how they think they'll go about it. I think setting up new clubs in key areas is important but then focus on getting the existing NPL clubs into a position where they can play nationally regularly will be the best way forward to look at promotion to the HAL.

[Stuckey]

One thing there is to remember, All Australian HAL clubs have a 20 year deal in the HAL. So surely relegation is at least that far away.
Doesn't mean we can't see some promotion which I feel is what everyone wants to see.

[EdDog]

I personally can't see it being viable for another decade at the very least.

[Stuckey]

I personally can't see it being viable for another decade at the very least.

My thoughts exactly. Starting to work on it now though would serve us well for the future.

[shinAUFC]

I would say this means NPL clubs will have a chance to play top flight again in the no so far away future.

Also promotion and relegation in the aleague may look very different then traditional european leagues. IMO it would need to be innovative to actually work here .

For example there are some interesting versions in south america that could be looked at i believe ?

Who is to say there cant be a 20 team top tier that is actually broken up into 2 divisions, yet all clubs play each other once and then play every team in their division an extra time?

This would still guarantee big time rivalries stay intact and would give us a 24 game

[Geogeo]

I think the idea of two divisions in theory works... but i dont think it would generate ticket sales nor TV interest against the smaller div two teams.

I think it needs to be 1 up 1 down... with specific criteria, like stadia & enough capital to stay a float for the season.