National Premier League Victoria side South Melbourne's championship-winning coach Chris Taylor has "blasted the A-League for being a timid competition too keen on recycling failed players" and criticized Football Federation Australia for "continuing to ignore the need for promotion and relegation to liven up competition," according to Michael Lynch of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Taylor's views will "win little support" at the FFA's Sydney HQ. But his criticisms are "starting to gain wider traction" with the football public, many of whom have "grown frustrated by a league which has the same ten teams year in and year out." Increasing numbers of fans "believe the lack of promotion and relegation means there is no penalty for failure on the pitch -- nor any reward for ambitious clubs who succeed at lower levels and are keen to test themselves at a higher level." Taylor was "particularly critical of A-League teams who brought out older players from overseas and showed little adventure in playing youngsters." He said, "Where are we blooding the young kids? It's difficult. You have got your bottom clubs that know they are not going to get relegated. They are bottom of the league all year, they know they won't get relegated, why not blood some young kids and give them the opportunity?" (SMH, 9/12).
