Really like these changes and its something ive been babbling on about for a number of seasons.And then the FFA announced the cap changes on friday
https://www.a-league.com.au/news/ffa-an ... nd-hyundai
$137,000 increase to salary cap
$200k cap on Loyalty Player payments and Homegrown Player payments outside of the salary cap have been removed (That is those designated players now don't count any of their wage, before it was only first 200k)
Maximum number of scholarship players increased from six (6) to nine (9).
They loyalty player payments is a big deal as the rule was:
And homegrown:A Club can spend up to a collective $200,000 across any number of Players that have given 5 or more consecutive seasons of service to the Club. A portion of a Loyalty Player’s contract value is excluded from the Salary Cap based on a progressive scale from 25% (5th continuous season) to 50% (10th continuous season onwards)
So I assume all the details are the same, except that 200,000 cap on each is just gone.Homegrown Players – A Club can spend up to a collective $200,000 on 4 Australian Players aged 23 or younger that have come through the Club’s youth system. Any payments to such Players above the $200,000 allowance are included in the Club’s Salary Cap.
Looking at the squad we don't have too many for the loyalty one, Marrone and Elsey would both be covered (both hit 5 years in Feb and Jan this year).
Kitto, Izzo and Konstandopolous would of counted if they all didnt have a short spell in another club in between
For homegrown we probably have Strain, Margush and Brook.
It does not mention if playing for another a-league youth team disqualifies or another team does. So Konstandopolous might count
But it does show just how important it was to keep youth prospects, not just for club culture, but for future salary cap savings.
Smaller clubs can now plan a progression of younger players and save money for when they think they may hit a “ golden “ period” where a number of their homegrown players may force them over the cap.
There are now 2 clear and viable ways to win the league, either buy it with big marquees or plan for it with a long term youth policy.
The new changes will give clubs a genuine reason to invest heavily in youth without risking having to let them go to fit the cap, this is great for football standards in aus