A-League Clubs To Gain Ownership Of Competition

A-League club owners "will come to the rescue of financially struggling clubs to ensure next season will finish with 12 teams" after reaching an agreement to gain "near-full control of the competition" from Football Federation Australia. The transition of ownership of Australia's top soccer league to its clubs is "set to be rubber-stamped" within the next two months.  It means the '20-21 A-League season "will be operated, governed and owned by the A-League clubs for the first time." Sources suggested that FFA "will retain a minority share in the new league entity," no more than 20%, with the "majority stake to be owned by the 12 clubs." The impending license transfer "will come at the most difficult point in the competition's short history" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/26).