Australian Professional Football Club Association chairman Greg Griffin sees an independent, club-run A-League as “inevitable” and could see such a league hosting 16 clubs within three to four years.​

Griffin joined FNR_Football Nation Radio's David Davutovic and Professional Footballers Australia’s Kate Gill for Football Q&A’s special on the FFA congress crisis, speaking on his role as the representative of the A-League clubs during the talks with FIFA and other stakeholders and the effect the governance crisis has had on this season’s Hyundai A-League.

Griffin, also chairman of Adelaide United, said “no [A-League] club is enjoying this year financially” and urged that the congress question be resolved before the beginning of the 2018-19 A-League season to ensure greater stability.

“We’re just not getting the same metrics that we had in the last two or three years,” he said. “The first positive change will be when FIFA deliver their directions and we get the game back on track.”

Kate Gill shared his sentiments, communicating the anxiety surrounding footballers in Australia regarding the forthcoming season. She reported that 63% of players will be out of contract at the end of the current season, saying the crisis had “really hijacked the professional game”.

Despite dwindling attendances, Griffin claimed the quality of the football being played in the A-League this season “has never been better”. He suggested the poor crowds can be put down to poor marketing in pre-season and that the clubs would be ready to run the league themselves.

Football Q&A airs Wednesdays from 5pm (AEDT) hosted by David Davutovic on FNR_Football Nation Radio.

Melbourne Victory defender James Donachie says the Victory have “shot themselves in the foot” on occasion this season and must be at their best to beat Melbourne City.

City and Victory head into the match on Friday night sitting third and fourth respectively with both sides having won a derby each this season.

This derby will be the first to feature City striker Bruno Fornaroli who Donachie is excited to match up against.

“He’s a very good player and very good on the ball, luckily I’ve played on him a few times so I know what he’s about,” Donachie said.

Donachie also told Carlos Alberto Diego on FNR_Football Nation Radio’s Calcio Café the team took a lot out of playing against the likes of Oscar and Hulk in the loss to Shanghai SIPG.

“It makes you sharper mentally, they’re always thinking ahead especially Oscar he’s a step above,” Donachie said.

“The little things they do show you where you are in the football world,” Donachie said.

Melbourne Victory will face Melbourne City on Friday Night at AAMI Park from 7:50pm (AEDT)

Calcio Café airs daily from 7am (AEDT) hosted by Carlos Alberto Diego on FNR_Football Nation Radio.

Former Kavala striker Blake Kallis says the rumours about Greek football being “corrupt and chaotic” are true after spending some time in the Greek first division.

Kallis, who now plays for Sunshine Coast FC in NPL Queensland, says he received a rude awakening when he arrived at Kavala as a 19-year-old.

“It really is how you hear about all the corruption and chaos,” Kallis said.

Kallis told Chris Appleford on FNR_Football Nation Radio’s Aussies Abroad the clubs in Greece revolve
around the president.

“It really comes down to the presidents, everything is in their hands including whether you get paid on time and looked after well,” Kallis said.

“I did hear stories of players who hadn’t been paid in three months and their accommodation wasn’t so nice,” Kallis said.

​Aussies Abroad airs every Tuesday from 8pm (AEDT) hosted by Chris Appleford on FNR_Football Nation Radio.

Football Supporters Australia interim chairman Pablo Bateson says the meetings between fan groups and FIFA have been an “important step” in improving fan engagement.

Bateson, on behalf of Football Supporters Australia has met with FIFA, the AFC and the FFA about a range of issues including the formation of the new congress.

“We asked FIFA to develop a proposal for the engagement of fans through the congress working group process,” Bateson said.

While Bateson says it would be “ideal” to be represented on the congress, Bateson believes it is critical an advisory committee be created to allow fans to inform the FFA of any grievances.

“It’s a great opportunity for the FFA to create an advisory committee to meet with fans on a regular basis,” Bateson said.

Moreover, Bateson told Carlos Alberto Diego and Joshua Parish on FNR_Football Nation Radio’s Fans United issues such as match-day policing and the scheduling of games were also discussed.

“It was a very robust discussion, very open. FFA, FIFA and the AFC are starting to engage with fans,” Bateson said.

​Fans United airs every Tuesday from 8pm (AEDT) hosted by Carlos Alberto Diego and Joshua Parish on FNR_Football Nation Radio

Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend says it has become his “sole focus” to engage with local football associations and clubs.

Townsend appeared on FNR_Football Nation Radio’s Fans United hosted by Carlos Alberto Diego and Joshua Parish where he said the club is working towards bridging the gap between grassroots and professional football in Sydney.

“One of the challenges with football is believing [on-field] success brings success off-field and I think our performances show it’s not always the case,” Townsend said.

One of the methods implemented to improve engagement with fans has been organising Sydney FC supporter buses through local clubs to transport fans to and from games.

Townsend says the concept has been “really well received” and allows fans to come together and build a strong matchday culture.

“It’s what we have to do to reach out to those fans,” Townsend said.

In addition, one of the other discussion points was the complaints from fans towards a heavy police and
security presence during matches.

Townsend said the issue was “definitely a concern” and believes fans should instead be celebrated for their dedication.

“We had 25,000 people in pouring rain demonstrating the dedication and support football has in this town,” Townsend said.

​ Fans United airs every Tuesday from 9am (AEDT) hosted by Joshua Parish and Carlos Alberto Diego on FNR_Football Nation Radio.

Former Newcastle Jets midfielder Matt Thompson believes the Newcastle Jets are capable of winning silverware ten years after winning their first championship.

Thompson told Carlos Alberto Diego on FNR_Football Nation Radio’s Newcastle Jets 2007/08 championship special he is confident the modern-day Jets will experience similar success.

“It’s the first time since the year we won it where we can give it a great shake,” Thompson said.

The Jets will be celebrating the ten-year anniversary of their inaugural Championship this year which Thompson says is still remembered fondly in the city of Newcastle.

“To win a Grand Final and to win it with some really great guys is a pretty special feeling,” Thompson said.

Newcastle triumphed over the Central Coast in the 2008 Grand Final which concluded in controversy after the Mariners were denied a stoppage time penalty for a handball on James Holland.

Jets marksman Joel Griffiths recalled the tense moments in the aftermath of the handball, saying luck was on Newcastle’s side.

“I remember James Holland handballing that ball in the box with only seconds to go and absolutely giving it to him,” Griffiths said.

“I pretty much said in the nicest way possible, ‘what are you doing James?’ and he looked at me this stone look going ‘I don’t know’, it’s almost like his trembling,” Griffiths said.
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Football Extra airs daily from 9am (AEDT) with Carlos Alberto Diego on FNR_Football Nation Radio.

                                                     Tom Rogic is one of the gems Bernal has worked closely with

Former Socceroo and player agent Andy Bernal believes young players “[don't] want to do the hard yards anymore” to make it at an elite level.

Bernal, who played for Reading and was once David Beckham's agent, says young players should be looking to break into big European academies as opposed to returning to the A-League which is "nothing special."

“A lot go [to Europe] and come back because they’re not good enough to play in Europe when the reality is the A-League’s not very good either,” Bernal said.

Bernal who has been a key figure in Tom Rogic's move to Celtic, believes players should be looking to play regular football in a league like the Eredivise before “moving onto an England, Spain or Italy".

“In my day you had to do two or three years of reserve team football and do the hard yards to get a sniff,” Bernal said.

In addition, Bernal told Louise Taffa on FNR_Football Nation Radio’s Next Gen it is up to the clubs to develop and nurture their players talent.

“There’s a lot of talent out there so nurture it, educate and empower them,” Bernal said.

“I see a lot people employed that shouldn’t even be near the kids, they have no idea about top level football,” Bernal said.

Next Gen airs every Thursday from 5pm (AEDT) hosted by Louise Taffa on FNR_Football Nation Radio

Football Nation Radio’s Carlos Alberto Diego believes the A-League clubs and FFA are not doing enough to build partnerships with stakeholders at grassroots levels.

Diego was critical of the club’s incentives on FNR_Football Nation Radio’s The Journos with Matt Windley, condemning the clubs for neglecting to grow the game.

“The A-League clubs don’t see at all their job as being to grow the game, it’s about winning games and filling stadiums,” Diego said.

According to Diego, despite their being strong participation levels at a grassroots level very few are gravitating towards the A-League which is why he believes the clubs should be working towards fixing this.

“I’ve spoken to many people at grassroots level and a lot of them don’t care about the A-League and I don’t think the A-League and FFA understand that,” Diego said.
​
The Journos airs daily from 8am (AEDT) hosted by Carlos Alberto Diego on FNR_Football Nation Radio.

Recently appointed Melbourne Knights Head Coach and former Croatian International, Aljosa Asanovic has revealed all about his World Cup exclusion in 1990.

Asanovic, who spoke to David Davutovic on FNR_Football Nation Radio’s Football Q&A last night said that his exclusion was a major “surprise” for him and the people of Yugoslavia at the time in the years preceding the Croatian War of Independence.

“In season 89/90, I was the best player in Yugoslavia. I officially was the best player and I didn’t go to the World Cup in Italy,” Asanovic said.

“This was not only a surprise for me, but it was a surprise for many people over there, Why? It was a question for the coach at the time,” Asanovic said.

The former Croatian Assistant Coach, also detailed the feeling in the dressing room between the Yugoslavian players in the years before the war and said there were no hard feelings between his team-mates.

“I can tell you about the sporting side and we never had any big problems between the players,” Asanovic said.

“But who loves war? This is something that is not good, in this moment I lost so many friends in the war,” Asanovic said.

Asanovic, who went on to represent Croatia 63 times and played at Euro ’96 and the World Cup in ’98 still had fond memories of his first games for the Vatreni.

“Four months later, I scored the first goal after 45 years for the Croatian national team, this is something I will never forget,” Asanovic said.

Asanovic, who was joined by his assistant and former Croatian international, Dean Racunica begin their season tomorrow night at Knights Stadium against Oakleigh Cannons.

You can listen to Football Q&A with David Davutovic on Wednesday nights at 5 PM (AEDST) on FNR_Football Nation Radio

Melbourne City W-League coach Patrick Kisnorbo says the team is “the best group [he’s] ever worked with” in the wake of their Grand Final win.

City became the first Australian club to win three consecutive Championships after defeating Sydney FC 2-0 in the W-League Grand Final, which Kisnorbo said was all due to hard work.

“At the end of the day it’s hard work, the girls work extremely hard on and off the field. We never stopped believing in what we wanted to do,” Kisnorbo said.

Kisnorbo also praised the club’s treatment of the W-League team, providing the required resources to sustain a world class environment.

“We’re a well-resourced club and our expectation as a club is so high,” Kisnorbo said.

Kisnorbo also applauded Welsh International Jess Fishlock’s ability to “perform on the big stage.”

“She’s world class, there’s no fluke whenever there’e a big game she always rises,” Kisnorbo said.

In terms of post-victory celebrations, Kisnorbo said the team spent time together and “enjoyed every moment of it” before dispersing in their separate directions the following day.

The Journos airs daily from 8am (AEDT) hosted by Carlos Alberto Diego on FNR_Football Nation Radio