Australian football is one step closer to adopting a promotion-relegation model because Football Australia has just announced plans to introduce a national second division football competition to kick off next year.
In an announcement last week, Football Australia CEO James Johnson noted that the development of a second division is part of a greater plan to grow football in Australia over the next 15 years.
“Developing a national second-tier competition is a key component of our 15-year vision for the game and our efforts to reconnect and realign Australian football competitions,” FA chief executive officer James Johnson said.
National Second Division | FA chief executive officer James Johnson
“Australian football has gone on a journey of transformation over the last two years, and this is the latest example of us bringing our vision for the game to life.
“With football booming in Asia, our national teams competing strongly on the world stage and as the largest team participation base in Australian sport, this is the right time to create a national second tier.”
Calls for second-tier football in Australia have been going on for decades, but it looks like we are finally starting to see the hopes of a second division become a reality.
How many teams will be in the national second division?
The national second division will be made up of 10-16 teams, with expressions of interest now open for clubs who wish to join.
30 clubs expressed interest in participating in a national second division last year, including teams from the National Premier League (NPL) such as Sydney United and Marconi.
“Some of these clubs have a rich history in Australian football and aspire to grow and compete at a national level,” Johnson said.
“The national second tier will now provide a platform for these aspirational clubs to be a part of a connected football pyramid for the long term.”
If Football Australia is unable to find enough suitable applicants, an alternative would include involving the most successful teams from each of the state NPL competitions.
Teams that are accepted into the NSD will need to leave their current competition.
What do clubs need to do to join the national second division?
Clubs wishing to play in the national second division will have to provide year-long contracts to players, full-time contracts to staff, have access to a “suitable, high-quality match-day facility 12 months of the year”, and provide developmental pathways for players to progress to more senior competitions.
More information about submitting an expression of interest for the national second division can be found here.
When will the season start and how long will it be?
Football Australia has announced that the inaugural second division season will aim to kick off in March 2024, and will feature a 24-36 game season, depending on how many teams join the league.
A proposed March start date means the national second division will be a winter competition, unlike the A-League — which currently runs in summer. Johnson has noted previously that the competition will be connected to the NPL — which also runs in winter.
“We will have a second-tier competition that will be played in winter,” he said last year. “And I’d like to ensure that is connected to the NPL, at least, as a start.”
Where does the national second division fit in the football landscape?
Once established, the second division will sit between the A-League and the National Premier Leagues.
The possibility of promotion and relegation between the NSD and the A-League has been floated as an option, but will not be implemented until the league matures in its own right.
Essentially, the national second division aims to close the gap between the NPL and the A-League to create a stronger pathway for young players that has been lacking for so long.
Who will own the national second division?
Unlike the A-League, which has been owned and run by the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) since the start of 2021, the national second division will be owned and operated by Football Australia itself.
