In then You’re Out

If the FFA are looking for a theme song for their new FFA cup competition teams in Western Australia would like to recommend Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold.”

The opening line in this particular hit from the American singer is “You change your mind, Like a girl changes clothes,” which would appear to be true of the game’s governing body in the West, Football West.

On Friday WA’s Premier football website www.Footballwa.net contacted Football West for clarification on whether the winning teams in the State League Cup Semi-finals the following day would win a place in the new Australian FFA Cup. They were advised that this was definitely the case by Football West’s Manager, Public Relations & Communications. The website then asked whether if Ashfield won their semi final they would be excluded because they had only lodged an application to join the new National Premier Leagues (NPL) in 2016.

The response clearly stated that the NPL is nothing to do with the FFA Cup and Ashfield if they won – which they did – would win a berth in the inaugural FFA Cup; and hopefully the chance of some much needed revenue from that. Although it has to be said no one has revealed what reward clubs will receive from the television rights attached to the FFA Cup, which should be shared between all qualifying teams, especially if little or no money is filtering down into the NPL.

Unfortunately two days after that correspondence FootballWA.net were advised by the CEO of Football West that this would not in fact be the case. Neither of the finalists, Bayswater City or Ashfield, will receive a berth in the newly formed FFA Cup should it get off the ground in the next 12 months.

In the words of Katy Perry, “You’re yes then you’re no, You’re in then you’re out,”

The question is does anyone actually know what is going on, what the criteria is and whether it will be stuck too?  This may well be the FFA’s fault rather than Football West’s but either way it would be great to have information communicated in a clear and concise manner so everyone involved in the game knows. Too often announcements are being made, confirmed and then at the last minute changed. This is not good for the game or the clubs.