FFA shooting itself in the foot AGAIN

[DJC]

There are a few layers of issue at the time but largely any lack of application didn't come because of financial difficulties.  My recollection was that the path to pursue an a league license cost 5 million dollars and required money to apply.

Think about the timeline.  It cost victory 4.5 million for their A league license.  500k contributed by FFA because they couldn't cover the full 5 million for the license.

The nsl was disbanded in 04 and a leagues first season in 05. 



Don't confuse effect with cause is what im getting at.  Were south Melbourne in administration and couldn't apply for a license or did they fall into administration because they were going to get denied a license and how better to manage your exit from the top flight be writing off bad debts? 

The administration and player departure happened when it was already apparent that a south bid wouldn't get up is my recollection of events.

Here's another history of SMFC "South Melbourne – Postecoglou and Puskas at the club that moulded the city’s Greek immigrants" at https://theathletic.com/2646261/2021/07/...mmigrants/

It repeats the same sequence of events:

"The good times could not last, however. The NSL was replaced by the A-League in 2004, and with Melbourne only authorised one licence and with the club in poor shape financially — entering voluntary administration — they did not apply for that licence. They remained semi-professional and returned to playing state-level football."

As I said previously, you would have to look at the documents for the voluntary administration to be sure, but it is most likely that SMFC was in trouble financially, went into voluntary administration and then did not apply for the A-League licence.