Football Federation Australia Gives A-League Clubs Pay Raise

Football Federation Australia has offered a "substantial pay rise to cash-strapped A-League clubs for next season, as long as projected revenue from the business end of the World Cup campaign does not collapse," according to Michael Cockerill of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. It is believed FFA has offered the league's 10 clubs a dividend of $1.9M each for the '12-13 season -- "a big increase of $450,000 from last season and within striking range of the $2.8M salary cap." Part of the increase is funded by a new government-backed sponsorship, but it is not dependent on the new TV deal, "which is in an advanced stage of negotiation and could be worth almost double the existing contract with Fox Sports" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 7/25).

GOING ONCE...: The Australian Football League St Kilda club has offered up its vacant co-major sponsorship property in a raffle, coinciding with Members’ Day for its Round 22 match against the Greater Western Sydney Giants. The club "hopes to sell 100 $3,000 tickets to local businesses and second-tier sponsors" (SPONSORSHIPNEWS.com.au, 7/23).