05Mar2002 AUSTRALIA: Sport - Push for Euro clubs to finance new NSL. By Michael Lynch. SOCCER

The chairman of English Premier League giant Newcastle United yesterday flagged the prospect of a multi-million-dollar move on Australian soccer by some of Europe's biggest clubs as the central plank of a massive reform program to ensure the sport's future in this country. The chairman of English Premier League giant Newcastle United yesterday flagged the prospect of a multi-million-dollar move on Australian soccer by some of Europe's biggest clubs as the central plank of a massive reform program to ensure the sport's future in this country. Freddy Shepherd, chairman of what is now, by turnover, the sixth biggest club in world soccer, said he was talking to his counterparts at other Premier League teams and the heads of European clubs to win support for his radical plan to revolutionise soccer in Australia. The Newcastle boss wants a number of European teams to partner Australian "franchises" - either newly established or existing clubs - and commit themselves to a five-year investment program to help the new-look league take off. He did not mention figures, but it is thought $5million a season would be needed to make the venture work. But, said Shepherd, no meaningful restructuring could take place unless the sport's governing body agreed to a number of initiatives that would give the reformers a virtual clean sheet to bring about wholesale change. Shepherd said the first priority was for Soccer Australia and the National Soccer League to be separated, with Soccer Australia having responsibility for the national team and the NSL being run by a separate management body, not the clubs themselves. The existing television contract with Channel Seven would have to be substantially renegotiated and there would have to be some kind of government support to help the game convert its grass-roots popularity into supporters at NSL matches. Shepherd was backed by Paul Stretford, chief executive of the Manchester-based Proactive Sports Management Group, which has just opened an Australian office it plans to make the hub of its Asia Pacific operations. Shepherd and Stretford have made several trips to Australia in the past 18 months to gauge business opportunities and to sign up talent for their player-agent division. They had talks recently with high-riding NSL team Newcastle United. They have been dismayed by the financial instability of Australian clubs and the political infighting at all levels of the game. They believe some sort of shock treatment may be the only solution if the game, and the increasing supply of Australian talent, is to develop. Shepherd is trying to follow the Manchester United example and take the Newcastle brand name into new areas. He has already agreed on a partnership deal with top Chinese side Dalian. Foreign clubs could use Australia as a staging post to promote their brand names in Asia, where the marketing and merchandising opportunities are vast. But, he does not advocate foreign clubs taking 100 per cent control of Australian teams. "The league must be restructured and Soccer Australia must be divorced from the league," he said yesterday. "It beggars belief that anyone can be so stupid as to run a business like that. "The broadcasting deal needs at best to be renegotiated and at worst to be scrapped because the finance to underpin the league will never be in place without proper television coverage." Melbourne lawyer David Galbally, who is a consultant to Proactive, is planning to travel to England for meetings with Premier League chairmen to spell out the options for involvement. "They could invest in existing clubs, but that would mean the competition does not change," Galbally said yesterday. "They could get involved and drive change from within, or they could be involved in the setting up of completely new franchises."

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Answers

it's what the chairman is for

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

i like freddie

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2002

Agreed Mac - but god forbid that Freddie thinks he can single handedly or easily sort out over 20 years of administrative bun fights that have dominated the running of Australian 'soccer'. he might find that he's bitten off more than (even) he can chew !

Boy, (or perhaps "strewth mate"!) I can't wait to hear what the local pundits have to say about some of his quotes in this Sunday morning's "On The Ball' show !! They're gonna lap it up. I'll try and keep you posted.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

The chairman of English Premier League giant Newcastle United

Well at least Freddie is getting the "Global Brand Awareness" message across! :-)

I'm not entirely sure what he's doing there but it sounds as if he is being very active in advancing the NUFC cause. I did read that on a recent Australian visit he spoke with the Emerton family with a view to discussing Brett's possible arrival. Quite a lot of talent is emerging from Australia these days so if United can reach some agreements where they get first dibs on some promising Oz stars then that can only be good news. Goodonya Freddie.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

Getting NUFC a global brand label by pontificating on how to run another country's league? Actually, Jonno, I thought the first trip to Australia was fine, but since he appears to be doing nothing other than winding up the locals on this trip, do you not think he would be better placed seeing what help he could give the Championship effort? There's a time and a place for everything. BTW, Emerton's agent claims that he didn't meet the Emerton family and can't see where the speculation is coming from..

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

he appears to be doing nothing other than winding up the locals on this trip

Well that doesn't matter they're Australians. :-)

But we've no idea what else he is doing have we? I don't know if the interview above was the main purpose of his visit or just an aside while he is doing other things. I'm reasonably convinced that FS is constantly working for the good of the club and it would be good to see something positive emerge from this Australian jaunt.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

Freddie went to school in Australia. It seems quite natural.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

Jonno, I don't think anyone disputes that he has the club's best interests at heart. How well-equipped he is to execute his plans is another matter and one we've all got opinions on.

He said in the matchday programme that he was tying up loose ends in Australia. I know a number of clubs, including the Australian Newcastle United, refused his partnership offer on the last trip (possibly because it was basically a "take-over" offer) so he may be trying to get some daylight in that respect.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

Or tying up loose ends is code for trying out South Coast 'hotels'

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002