No Honour Amongst Clubs, Or Players.

The game of football in Western Australia has been descending to new depths for the past two decades, and despite many good-intentioned people and ideas, they have been unable to halt the decline.

One of the reasons for that decline is because the old values on which the game was built no longer exist, values such as honesty, loyalty, commitment and integrity.

Just prior to Christmas all hell broke loose on social media when a club revealed that a player who had been photographed as officially signing for their club in October 2019, and who had been training with his new side since November 5th had allegedly told the club that he had received a better offer from another club, and was now leaving to take up that offer.

Most of the comments posted took the stance that the player had done the wrong thing.

The player, and many like him no doubt feel that they have done nothing wrong, which is sad. It shows a lack of standards indoctrinated in their upbringing and development, a failure to know what is the right thing to do, a lack of honour.

This behaviour reflects how far the game has fallen in the past twenty years.

Sadly the decline started prior to the commencement of the NPL. There was honour and respect amongst the clubs in the State League, but in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s a new generation started to take control of many of the clubs. Then, just as happens in the professional game some of these clubs started ‘tapping’ players on a regular basis. They were meeting with players under contract with other clubs before the season was over, or their contract had expired. Dangling a carrot without the player’s existing club being aware.

Prior to this behaviour no club would have instigated such a meeting without a phone call to the President of the club the player was playing for, and although not necessary, but out of courtesy also to the coach. Only then would clubs open dialogue with the player they wished to attract to their club.

Of course also in this era there were transfer fees between the State League clubs, so the dialogue was very important if you wanted to get a fair price for the player, especially if they were still under contract.

It was not only players who were being approached in this way. Coaches too were ‘tapped’ while still coaching at one club to come the following season to another, or even before the incumbent coach had been sacked. One former coach who epitomised honour and respect, declined to talk to a club while the current coach was still employed. His argument being that the position was not vacant and he would not want the same thing to happen to him; a coach going behind his back to take his job. Sadly he would be a victim of the exact thing he was not prepared to do.

So the decline started with the club administrators, yet few could have realised what they had created. Social media was coming to the fore and now there was a new way to communicate. It was not just clubs approaching players, but players approaching clubs, and also sussing out the lie of the land with fellow players, communicating via Social media platforms.

The failed salary cap that was introduced did the opposite of what it was supposed to do; as predicted by some. It did not result in clubs reducing their spending. Now players had the upper hand in terms of whom they played for. If a club wanted a player they were going to have to pay extra cash under the table to entice that player to wear their team’s colours. If it wasn’t cash under the table it was other inducements to sweeten the deal. We are now seeing players of inferior quality being paid far more than their ability warrants.

As one former professional who graced the State League for many years and won more than a few trophies said, “If you are playing in this league for the money, you are playing for the wrong reasons.” The reason for playing should be the joy of being part of a club and playing at the highest level, competing each week and testing yourself should be the incentive. It should also be a stepping stone for young players who have ambition to go further. Money should not be the motivation.

It is understandable that the club concerned in this episode is upset. As most people in the comments stated before the post was taken down, the player and the club he is going to have both done the wrong thing. Sure other players and other clubs have done the same, but it does not make it right. It shows a lack of respect for a fellow club and a lack of honour and integrity from both the player and the poaching club.

What was astounding was the player concerned, who made the decision to break his agreement, posted that he had never been a victim of bullying, and now knew what it was like. This player is 29 years old. No one put a gun to his head and said you have to change clubs. He made that decision. In life sometimes you make decisions that are unpopular, but you feel personally are right, but you are the one who makes that decision, no one else. Therefore you must live with the consequences of your decision. He made the decision, no one else, so he must own that decision.

There is another problem at the root of this situation, and that is the system set up by those governing the game. If a club has to all intents and purposes signed a player, there has been an announcement on the club’s website and social media channels, and the player has shaken hands – which is still regarded as a binding contact – with the club, why can’t they register the player at that time?

Having enquired into this situation, Not The Footy Show was told that clubs cannot register players until the system is ready, which is usually in January. This is ridiculous. It should also be unacceptable to all clubs, and one wonders what the Standing Committees are doing to have not had this issue addressed. Why cannot a player be registered once he has signed with a club? Surely once the previous season finishes the ability to register players for the coming season should open?

If the game wants to see players committed to clubs there must be a mechanism that locks them in once they agree terms. This is a commitment being made by both parties. The club is showing faith in the player, and the player is believing that the club will help him develop as a player, and bring him rewards.

Clearly the player agreements that were signed are not worth the paper that they are printed on. Which means a smart club, if it wishes to avoid a situation such as this, will now have a lawyer draw up binding documents that do indeed make the player an employee of that club and locks them in for an agreed period of time and an agreed salary.

It was former President of the United States of America Calvin Coolidge who said ” No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave.”

Often what you give to warrant that honour is you word. If your word cannot be trusted or if you fail to honour your word or a handshake, you have nothing. Sadly football here in Western Australia has seen people’s word become worthless, and as for a handshake being binding, clearly that too no longer means anything.

So what needs to be done to right the ship that is listing so badly? The game needs a leader. Someone who is prepared to be unpopular, but who will get the clubs in a room and sort out this mess. If the clubs return to respecting each other and acting honourably, then they can instil the same code of conduct amongst their players.

When a player signs for club, that club must be able to register the player immediately. No club should then be allowed to approach that player unless permission has been granted by the player’s current club. A failure to adhere to such decencies should result in a fine, or a deduction of points in the league. The only time players can be approached is once they are out of contract, or once permission has been granted. This will in turn cut out players going from club to club trying to find who is prepared to pay them the most. Remember it should not be about the money at this level, this is not a career. It is debatable whether the game in its current state is even worthy of being called semi-professional.

If there is not an accepted code of conduct between the clubs, and they fail to live up to the values of old that game the game structure and a foundation, how can we expect the players to live up to the values of old?

Hopefully this incident will be the catalyst for change, hopefully someone is phoning around planning a meeting to put in place a code of conduct to carry the game forward into the next decade.