Battling
A-League outfit Central Coast Mariners are facing relegation at the end
of next season if they collect another wooden spoon.
Wellington
Phoenix are also in the gun as they battle to hit a series of Football
Federation Australia performance metrics by the end of 2019-20.
The
current CPA (Club Participation Agreement) stipulates that any club
which finishes last three years in a row, or four out of six seasons can
be relegated.
The Mariners, who are
away to Melbourne Victory on Sunday at AAMI Park finished last in
2015-16 and 2017-18 and need a minor miracle to avoid the wooden spoon
this season.
The Gosford club, who
replaced coach Mike Mulvey with Alen Stajcic, have won twice in 24
games, securing a miserly 10 points - five behind Brisbane Roar - while
shipping 62 goals.
FFA chief executive
David Gallop, who admitted the Mariners operated in a tough market, said
underperforming clubs need to be held to account.
“It
is far too early in the process to suggest what might be included in
any CPA going forward but consideration would need to be given to the
process for any club that underperforms consistently,’’ Gallop said.
“The
proper management of any league requires KPIs that assist the continued
good performance of the constituent clubs and contribute to the
strength of the league as a whole.
“Any
new operating model for the A League will need to take on that
responsibility. The current clause indicates grounds for a review rather
than anything automatic.”
While the new A-League operating model is due to be resolved by June 30, the Mariners’ results are now under the blowtorch.
“If
the club finishes last in the A-League for three consecutive seasons of
the term or finishes last in four out of six seasons, the FFA may
notify the club that it is not satisfied with the club’s compliance,”
the CPA states.
Clauses 17.4 and 17.5
state: “If within 30 days of receipt of a notice FFA is still not
satisfied that the club can and will continue to meet its obligations
under this agreement, FFA may … implement the requirement of a bank
guarantee or (call a status meeting).
“If
the club and FFA have not been able to resolve any one or more of the
issues set out in the notice and one is either a flagrant or serious
breach of this Agreement or a material failure of the club to meet its
obligations and Minimum Performance Measures over the period leading up
to the review point, FFA may terminate this Agreement with immediate
effect by giving notice to the club.”
It’s understood that the existing CPA will be largely retained when the A-League becomes independent next season.
Gold
Coast United was the last A-League club to be relegated, in 2012, after
breaking several other CPA rules, paving the way for Western Sydney
Wanderers to enter.
As it stands, the
Mariners could only be relegated to the state league (National Premier
Leagues), although the release of the FFA’s second division White Paper
is imminent.
Promotion-relegation has
been a hot topic in Australian soccer, with grassroots and
traditionalists calling for the system to be opened up, a la most
European leagues including England, Italy, Spain and Germany