Perthetic Glory
There is a strong pungent waft coming from the Brew house that is Perth Glory even after Jason Brewer fell on his sword and became a fall guy to remember. As CEO he took full responsibility for the recent happenings at Perth even though the majority of the football world knows he wasn’t the only man behind breaching the salary cap. For the sake of the league keeping face and resolving the matter before the finals series Brewer will possibly be the only man who fully punished for his role in deceiving the league and paying above the allowed cap.
Ultimately Tony Sage will foot the substantial $269,000 financial burden but at the end of the day continues to own the club and runs his organisation as he sees fit. This latest group of events has seen him lose face with the loyal Perth fans that still remain. Over the previous few seasons the fans have remained loyal to the cause but this could be the final straw for so many. Before the Asian Cup Andy Keogh was banging goals in for fun, Perth were clear top of the league and the club looked to capture their first domestic title since the final stages of the NSL
When the original punishment was handed down to Perth many thought the club was hard done by, but when you start drilling down you begin to realise just how premeditated the salary cap breaches were. There is no doubting the many loopholes the A-League salary cap contains. Guest stints and the marquee statuses invite clubs to push the boundaries and allow administrators to become very creative with the playing squad. For a club to blur the boundaries so significantly shows knowledge beyond one or two individuals and the systematic nature of the breaches make it impossible for even the most loyal of fans to believe the club was not at fault.
Some Western Sydney and Newcastle fans were upset that Perth weren’t relegated to last position but via the wisdom of Damien de Bohun we have now discovered putting Perth in last place would’ve upset numerous betting agencies. When it was first announced that Perth would be placed seventh at the completion of the season I thought nothing of this punishment but now the betting agencies involved it treats every A-League fan with contempt. We shouldn’t allow betting agencies to dictate penalties handed down by those that run the game; we should let the actions of those at fault dictate the correct action.
Unlike many football competitions in the world there is no deterrent for clubs to finish last. If the league considers the breaches to be significant all points should’ve been stripped and Perth ‘awarded’ the wooden spoon.
So what now for Perth Glory? This season is a total right off and if they’re not careful the next few could also go down the same path. Tony Sage must either relinquish the ownership of the club or perform a minor miracle to win over the Perth fans. Perth is filled with many passionate football fans and a vital cog of the A-League if it is to truly succeed. There is definitely a market for football in Perth but the predicted player turnover and the likely fall out from the disastrous 2014/15 season has the potential to turn the club into a basket case. One only has to look at the current Newcastle situation to see how you don’t run a football club and what happens you ignore your loyal fan base.
For Perth they must start the 2015/16 season on Sunday against Melbourne City. The FFA must ensure the scheduled September 3rd clash between the Socceroos and Bangladesh isn’t only a World Cup qualifier but a football experience to win the fans back. In Melbourne we saw how a salary cap scandal can decimate a club with the Storm debacle but we also witnessed how hard work can also win back fans and gain a new legion of fans.
The next 12 months will be the most vital in Glory history, let’s hope whoever is in charge of the club makes all the right moves and gives Perth fans what they deserve; a football team they can be proud of.
Image: www.nibstadium.com.au
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