Australian football's "wider constituency is pushing at an open door" as it presses Football Federation Australia to "broaden its governing base and widen representation" on the organization's board, according to Michael Lynch of THE AGE. FFA confirmed on Monday, after meeting with representatives of football's state member federations, that it was "keen" to find a way to "adapt as the game evolves in Australia," according to Chair Steven Lowy. It will hold an emergency general meeting by the end of March when it will "change its constitution, increase representation of A-League clubs and key groups in the game such as players, women's football, coaches and referees." But the desire of the A-League clubs to "receive a much greater share of the revenues generated by the new TV deal is likely to be resisted strongly," with FFA arguing that to do so would be to "ignore its wider responsibilities for running the game." Talks between A-League club execs and FFA are "due to take place on Tuesday, with the two sides seemingly wide apart on the vexed question of financial dividends for the clubs." Lowy believes that the way forward is for the game to "look at new operating and ownership models for the A-League and W-League." He said, "We need to attract more capital and expertise to our clubs and game." Clubs are "increasingly coming around to the idea that a clean split might need to be made to act as a circuit breaker for the impasse that is looming" (THE AGE, 2/13). In Sydney, Ray Gatt reported A-League club owners "have been the greatest agitators for reform." They are "demanding a stronger say in the running of the game in Australia and they are certain to reinforce their determination for change." As it stands now, the A-League clubs "have a single combined vote, which along with the nine state and territory federations makes up the 10 votes of the congress." The clubs argue that they provide almost 80% of FFA’s revenue. They are demanding at least another two votes in "what is likely to be a greatly increased voting structure" that will also include the players’ union, futsal, the referees’ body and the women’s game (THE AUSTRALIAN, 2/14).
