A majority of A-League coaches "want the salary cap scrapped or at least dramatically increased," according to Windley & Davutovic of the HERALD SUN. In a survey of 10 A-League coaches, only two -- Melbourne City's Warren Joyce and Sydney FC's Graham Arnold -- "advocated keeping the cap in its current form." Two others, Adelaide's Marco Kurz and Tony Popovic -- who was still Western Sydney's coach at the time of questioning -- "were unsure," while Wellington's Darije Kalezić said that it had to be significantly expanded "to give clubs more possibilities to sign more quality players." In a view shared by others, Perth coach Kenny Lowe and Newcastle's Ernie Merrick were "adamant" the current salary cap "was pointless given the amount of loopholes that exist within it." Merrick: "If you have a salary cap you have a salary cap. There's no point having a pseudo salary cap where there are so many ways to get around it" (HERALD SUN, 12/11).
MOVING FRENZY: Davutovic also reported A-League execs will discuss the merits of a loan system this week and "have not ruled out introducing it next month, a move that could trigger a January moving frenzy." Many A-League coaches and "well-credentialed" football identities "have advocated for a loan and transfer system as a solution to the limited senior exposure youngsters are getting." A-League Head Greg O'Rourke said that a loan system "was inevitable, but could not yet confirm whether it would be ratified in time for the upcoming transfer window," which opens on Jan. 3 (HERALD SUN, 12/11).
