Shambles

[scipio africanus]

I am not sure if this is a similar scenario as to what Haywood was talking about, but my daughter was part of a newly formed women's club at the beginning of 2000, and the team won their way up through the divisions each year, and got to div 1 ( there was still the Res + Prems divisions above us at that time) After our first season, we generated enough interest to field 2 senior teams, and we were growing.
However, when we got to division one, we were informed that we wouldnt be going any higher unless we had junior teams. Because of that ruling,we lost a few of our players because they were ap-poached by other clubs, with the incentive of playing higher. I tried to tell them that if we stuck together and won division 1, we might have a geniune case.
That was not to be, and without those players,we still finished 3rd, and only lost 2-1 to a Prem side in the cup round ,so i feel the team would have been competitive.
Like the point I think Haywood was trying to make, and rather then SAWSA come up with some ideas/ways to help, they put all these enormous hurdles in front of us, like our Coach had to upgrade his license, had to change kick off times which werent suitable for us, had to have junior teams ( coach was working on that ) it all fell apart from there.
What's the worst thing that wouldve happened if they let the team play Prems, could it have made the competition any worse then it is now ?
How long has the competition been going,25 - 30 years, have only maybe 4 viable Premier league clubs ? Maybe there needs to be a shift of titanic proportions in some people's focus.

whether the FFSA's guidelines for clubs participating in State/Prem League are correct or not is another debate.

Haywood's accusation that the 'top 4' clubs are 'looked after' by the FFSA is unfounded and I'm yet to read one example backing up this claim.

Sorry I didn't provide examples skippo, but yet I will also point out I gave you a response yet you failed to answer my questions? I will take from your response you do play or involved with the mentioned clubs or your closely involved with the association!

Look between the lines, Olympic, campbelltown gone! Talk of other state league teams going, who knows who else has not express intrest in playing again, girls looking elsewhere as game has gone down hill the list could go on and we have all read it on here before so to me the attraction for girls to continue playing has diminished. Keeping this all in mind the powers to be make clubs, wishing to play elite football, pull players out of the community from somewhere to fulfill some unrealistic criteria that only the well established clubs 'top 4' can fulfill year after year!

I was the coach of the gardens girls for the last 3 years and it's very disappointing that it has to be this way but for some reason the league thinks the competition is heading in the right direction

I never disputed your points, bar citing the total absence of examples of where the top 4 clubs were 'favoured' by the FFSA, so why should I have to answer your points, especially if I may happen to agree with some of them?? Nor do I represent the FFSA.

By the way, as for only the top 4 clubs being able to make the criteria, I just checked, and Metro (yes the same club you mentioned 3 times specifically, only had one junior team in 2011, so they don't make the criteria either!)

You could have made your point without needlessly dragging in other clubs and especially without making accusations that you clearly can't substantiate.

Women's football is clearly in crisis, something that you and I obviously agree with, but you went about articulating your argument the wrong way ... the most disappointing aspect is that this has been clearly evident and in the making for some time, yet it will now take the demise of some long time clubs to (hopefully) get the urgency of action desperately required.

It should have never have gotten to this point.

[John Cena]

sorry but only a few people are to blame here, the same people that have been at the helm for the last 10 years, if they were employed by a company they would have been sacked years ago for under performing, alot of good people have been lost since these have been in charge, total DISGRACE

[L4OTH]

It's a sad day for the game ..
If a side that had the potential of last years Olympic squad can't survive,it's looking
very bleak indeed.
Thanks to the staff and handful of players who tried to keep the club alive.
Very unfortunate for the girls who stayed loyal and now find themselves without
a side for next season.As most prem teams are already full,the league may lose
even more quality players from the competition.

[southern]

sorry but only a few people are to blame here, the same people that have been at the helm for the last 10 years, if they were employed by a company they would have been sacked years ago for under performing, alot of good people have been lost since these have been in charge, total DISGRACE

Can't believe these people don't even have the balls to wear the blame and resign. Seriously...if you have a little respect for yourself and the others around you then you have to put in your resignation ....Just a personal thought.

It's a sad day for the game ..
If a side that had the potential of last years Olympic squad can't survive,it's looking
very bleak indeed.
Thanks to the staff and handful of players who tried to keep the club alive.
Very unfortunate for the girls who stayed loyal and now find themselves without
a side for next season.As most prem teams are already full,the league may lose
even more quality players from the competition.

With Sturt and Olympic gone where are the remaining players supposed to go? They can't all go to Uni or Fulham! I heard even A. City have lost a lot of their "star" players like Scalzi, Papageorgeou, May, Bruce (not sure if to retirement or other clubs) and now are building a young team for this season. If that's true maybe there's room there for up and coming players who are serious about the game? Either A.City or Metro IMO, the only two clubs that have showed some consistency and are actually serious. They showed in the past to be able to have a two-three year project and to look after their players, and they are consistently among the best clubs all round. There must be a reason... :?

[beaches]

2011 was a tough year for one of 4 clubs purported to be favored etc etc. FULHAM. Nenita and the club decided to rebuild and did not directly approach or poach players from other clubs. Tough decision that because knowing MJ was out for 3/4 of the season, Cassie Tsimbouris out injured for 8 weeks after 2 games, Ebony Philcox did not play a lot of games because of injury and other commitments. But MJ, Nenita and Chris Debono stuck with the young players. Stella Rigon showed loyalty to the club and helped immensely. Kiki Courtidis played when she was available and always aquitted herself well. The young players developed over the season.
Now a couple of players from other clubs are going to Fulham(and they were not poached or approached by Nenita or anyone at the club to my knowledge) many are getting miffed.
There will be a significant announcement in the next few days concerning Fulham and its direction in 2012.
Maybe then people may understand why some players have been welcomed at Fulham to help in the development of young players at the club and other information pending.

[Caretaker Coach]

I am not sure if this is a similar scenario as to what Haywood was talking about, but my daughter was part of a newly formed women's club at the beginning of 2000, and the team won their way up through the divisions each year, and got to div 1 ( there was still the Res + Prems divisions above us at that time) After our first season, we generated enough interest to field 2 senior teams, and we were growing.
However, when we got to division one, we were informed that we wouldnt be going any higher unless we had junior teams. Because of that ruling,we lost a few of our players because they were ap-poached by other clubs, with the incentive of playing higher. I tried to tell them that if we stuck together and won division 1, we might have a geniune case.
That was not to be, and without those players,we still finished 3rd, and only lost 2-1 to a Prem side in the cup round ,so i feel the team would have been competitive.
Like the point I think Haywood was trying to make, and rather then SAWSA come up with some ideas/ways to help, they put all these enormous hurdles in front of us, like our Coach had to upgrade his license, had to change kick off times which werent suitable for us, had to have junior teams ( coach was working on that ) it all fell apart from there.
What's the worst thing that wouldve happened if they let the team play Prems, could it have made the competition any worse then it is now ?
How long has the competition been going,25 - 30 years, have only maybe 4 viable Premier league clubs ? Maybe there needs to be a shift of titanic proportions in some people's focus.

Just to clear the air, I was the coach of that team. After having been on the SAWSA board for almost 3 years, I was approached by a club to coach their women's side. They had a team ready to play, couldnt get a coach as they were all complete beginners.At one stage were looking at U/14s side as 8 of the players were eligible.We couldnt get enough, so we made the rest of the team up with some girlfriends of the Men's team, entered a team in division 4.
What started out as bit of fun, soon became competitive, on and off the field, even in this division.To say we surpassed our own expectations is an understatement,as we became more successful, more people took an interest in us, as we progressed through the divisions. We had girls from miles away who wanted to play for us, but I sent them to clubs closer to them, particularly if their parents were driving them, just didnt make sense to make them come all this way. I shared this with you so you know where I am coming from.
I became very interested in challenging the Premier teams, but to cut a long story short, it all became very political and too hard in the end, went back to Men's soccer. I could go on and whinge about a lot of things that I experienced in that time ( not all of it was enviable ), but it will not help where the women's game is at now.
As it has been already mentioned, and it has been said many times before, we all need to change our focus, not just people running the game, clubs as well, and this "my club is all right jack" mentality is not helping - if you really care about the future of the game.
As has already been pointed out, when you have too few doing it all, always going to be a problem, players need to be made aware not just about training and playing your game.
How many coaches do things in the spirit of the game ? I watched my friends daughter play in an U /11s game last season, the oppositon coach kept 3 players on the edge of the attacking penalty box the whole game, just kept kicking long balls to them ? found out later there is no offside at that level, and coaches were not suppose to take advantage of that. It is not all about winning.
If you are/ were a Premier team is now struggling and players are leaving, why go to another Premier club ? at least go and help someone who is trying to get into the Premier league.
The big thing that stood out to me,back in 2001, I attended my first Presentation Night as a coach, and what I found was that all the attention and focus, was on all the State teams, development squads, SASI, Premier clubs. The other 3 divisions may as well not have been there, it was like didnt even exist. I share that with you, because when I was on the board I didnt notice it, was blind to it all, wasnt until I saw it from a coaches perspective, that I realised.
Enough of my rant, at the end of the day it is just another opinion, and my hope is that you all start working together a bit more, to rebuild, wont happen overnight, but your can make a difference, one way or the other. Cheers.

[rain maker]

On a positive note, Adelaide United won their first and only game in three years

[Unretired]

[quote="Fitz] the promise of making the W-League squad.[/quote]



Sorry but you have been mis informed....no one has been offered spots in the w-league team if they played at uni. Contrary to popular belief no one from Uni has anything to do with the Adelaide united side....

[Fitz]

2011 was a tough year for one of 4 clubs purported to be favored etc etc. FULHAM. Nenita and the club decided to rebuild and did not directly approach or poach players from other clubs. Tough decision that because knowing MJ was out for 3/4 of the season, Cassie Tsimbouris out injured for 8 weeks after 2 games, Ebony Philcox did not play a lot of games because of injury and other commitments. But MJ, Nenita and Chris Debono stuck with the young players. Stella Rigon showed loyalty to the club and helped immensely. Kiki Courtidis played when she was available and always aquitted herself well. The young players developed over the season.
Now a couple of players from other clubs are going to Fulham(and they were not poached or approached by Nenita or anyone at the club to my knowledge) many are getting miffed.
There will be a significant announcement in the next few days concerning Fulham and its direction in 2012.
Maybe then people may understand why some players have been welcomed at Fulham to help in the development of young players at the club and other information pending.

If any of the comments I made seemed to be coming across that I am angry with Fulham, please don't take it that way. I am just disappointed that girls have left. They did so of their own choosing. Its Uni I have a problem with, with their aggressive tactics and promises. Good luck at Fulham this year, I'll come out and see some of the girls and hopefully see them progressing.

[Unretired]

Fitz as far as I am aware all the players that have gone to uni have come on their own. They have not been poached...including my daughter.....

I only know of 1 player that was approached by the committe and then was told im sorry but we have no room for you.......everyone else decided to move and came out to the trials and some of those players have been turned away also...

[Fitz]

Fitz as far as I am aware all the players that have gone to uni have come on their own. They have not been poached...including my daughter.....

I only know of 1 player that was approached by the committe and then was told im sorry but we have no room for you.......everyone else decided to move and came out to the trials and some of those players have been turned away also...

I know one who is being paid, one who was promised, in no uncertain terms 'if you play for us, we will get you into the W-League squad.'

[Unretired]

I would say the words would have been we will help you get into w league not we will get you in....big difference.....

And wow 1 player being paid.....and do you know what they are doing to be getting paid.....
This is a big step for womans soccer.....Men get paid why cant women....

[Fitz]

I would say the words would have been we will help you get into w league not we will get you in....big difference.....

And wow 1 player being paid.....and do you know what they are doing to be getting paid.....
This is a big step for womans soccer.....Men get paid why cant women....

Your defence of the poaching of players is hardly setting an exemplary example for forthcoming generations and for others involved in the womens game. Currently, there is not a lot of club loyalty coming from players or parents of players. It would be nice to get that 'tribal' feeling at the State level that the mens game has in spades. That comes from club loyalty, and from bringing juniors through to the seniors. Player poaching directly inhibits that. It was the clubs aim to get the local game, and Olympic, to such a level where players were getting paid to offset their commitments to training and to help them financially. Everyone involved know the girls have to give up job opportunities a lot of the time to focus on their football, as do their male counterparts (who get paid).

Olympic were aiming at building a club where we never approached a player, but were approached by the player themselves once they saw what we were doing there. Hirls going to Fulham because they wanted to, I have no issue with. Active poaching of players and 'tapping up' by Uni, I resent.

As for your quote regarding the player getting guarantees, I can tell you she would have had every opportunity at Olympic to make the W-League, as last year, Paul was fantastic supporting her when her confidence was down. This year, with our combined coaching, we had every faith in her taking the league by storm and getting into W-League.

[ARodgers]

Fitz as far as I am aware all the players that have gone to uni have come on their own. They have not been poached...including my daughter.....

I only know of 1 player that was approached by the committe and then was told im sorry but we have no room for you.......everyone else decided to move and came out to the trials and some of those players have been turned away also...

Whether you are aware of it or not, it is happening Retired, it is happening at your club this year and it has happened at many other clubs in the past. Many of the girls who move maintain decent relationships with the coaches they have left. I've been involved with Knights for a while now and we have seen more than our fair share of players move on for a great many reasons, a proportion of whom were directly approached by clubs they had never considered joining and promised a lot to leave and come over. I know this because the girls involved came to me to ask advice on whether they should move or not (or in a few cases they came to tell me they had said no, but had been approached). Many other coaches I know have a similar relationship with their players, while other players are simply honest and open about why they are moving.

I'm not passing judgement on these coaches, players or clubs because I have been in the game long enough to know that it is a fact of life that coaches and clubs approach talented players, whether it be in the men's, women's or junior game.

However if we are serious about having a strong and large elite women's competition in this state maybe some clubs, players and coaches need to rethink their attitude towards this. In the same way that smaller clubs, like mine, have to look at what these successful clubs can offer girls and try to recreate that (something that we at knights are working very hard to achieve) maybe the more successful clubs should leave us and our players be for a few years and allow them to develop and grow.

[Unretired]

Arodgers....

I am aware that it does go on.....as you know I was in your boat a few years back myself when I was running the show at the same club you are now...

all I am saying is most of the girls that have come out to UNI this year have come out on there own....

I wish there was an answer to the poaching issue so that all clubs could grow on their own merits but when some one is not happy at thier current club of course they are going to leave...

It does sadden me that Olympic have gone the way they have.

[Fitz]

Fitz as far as I am aware all the players that have gone to uni have come on their own. They have not been poached...including my daughter.....

I only know of 1 player that was approached by the committe and then was told im sorry but we have no room for you.......everyone else decided to move and came out to the trials and some of those players have been turned away also...

Whether you are aware of it or not, it is happening Retired, it is happening at your club this year and it has happened at many other clubs in the past. Many of the girls who move maintain decent relationships with the coaches they have left. I've been involved with Knights for a while now and we have seen more than our fair share of players move on for a great many reasons, a proportion of whom were directly approached by clubs they had never considered joining and promised a lot to leave and come over. I know this because the girls involved came to me to ask advice on whether they should move or not (or in a few cases they came to tell me they had said no, but had been approached). Many other coaches I know have a similar relationship with their players, while other players are simply honest and open about why they are moving.

I'm not passing judgement on these coaches, players or clubs because I have been in the game long enough to know that it is a fact of life that coaches and clubs approach talented players, whether it be in the men's, women's or junior game.

However if we are serious about having a strong and large elite women's competition in this state maybe some clubs, players and coaches need to rethink their attitude towards this. In the same way that smaller clubs, like mine, have to look at what these successful clubs can offer girls and try to recreate that (something that we at knights are working very hard to achieve) maybe the more successful clubs should leave us and our players be for a few years and allow them to develop and grow.

For mine, I believe if a large club such as City, Metro, Uni etc want to ask a player to come to play for them from a team such as Knights, they should firstly contact the head coach there, not the player. They should decide on what is best for the player. As you said, a player can continue developing well at a smaller club without moving for a period of time, but when the time comes, they know they will be able to move to a club that has a good relationship with their current club, as they have gone through an honourable and logical process for moving. Also, their current club will have been able to do their homework and see if the move is a beneficial one, in terms of an increased level of coaching, support (from both FFSA and club), and increased level of opportunity at their possible new club.

Its always about what is best for the player and their development.

[ARodgers]

Retired,

I do know how much work you put into our club, and am still grateful for it!

While I also appreciate that many of the girls who came to Uni would have come because of the coaching offered and the structure and stability at the club, I know for a fact that a few have come after being approached and that a number of others were approached and decided not to go. I have even been shown the messages they were sent. Like I said, I don't pass judgment as I know the enormity of the task that faced Uni when they were promoted and I know they needed to recruit to be competitive, especially as you would of lost a few of the talented youngsters to the NTC.

I also know that players don't just leave clubs because they are poached. Sadly a lot of the better ones that clubs look to build around are.

Unfortunately there isn't a solution beyond ALL clubs deciding to stop doing it. Call me a pessimist but I don't see that happening any time soon.

[Fitz]

Retired,

I do know how much work you put into our club, and am still grateful for it!

While I also appreciate that many of the girls who came to Uni would have come because of the coaching offered and the structure and stability at the club, I know for a fact that a few have come after being approached and that a number of others were approached and decided not to go. I have even been shown the messages they were sent. Like I said, I don't pass judgment as I know the enormity of the task that faced Uni when they were promoted and I know they needed to recruit to be competitive, especially as you would of lost a few of the talented youngsters to the NTC.

I also know that players don't just leave clubs because they are poached. Sadly a lot of the better ones that clubs look to build around are.

Unfortunately there isn't a solution beyond ALL clubs deciding to stop doing it. Call me a pessimist but I don't see that happening any time soon.

Financial penalties/sanctions from FFSA for any clubs who do so? Players who DO move obviously wouldnt show their coaches, but players who dont move would surely report the issue to their coach or show their coach text messages. I believe its possible to get all clubs on-side regarding player movement, it just takes leadership, and stronger stances regarding the issues from the governing bodies. Look at the FA in England, UEFA and FIFA. They banned Chelsea for 6 months from player transfers due to the Gael Kakuta transfer, also Man Utd were banned due to their transfer of the Da Silva twins before they were 18.

[ARodgers]

For mine, I believe if a large club such as City, Metro, Uni etc want to ask a player to come to play for them from a team such as Knights, they should firstly contact the head coach there, not the player. They should decide on what is best for the player. As you said, a player can continue developing well at a smaller club without moving for a period of time, but when the time comes, they know they will be able to move to a club that has a good relationship with their current club, as they have gone through an honourable and logical process for moving. Also, their current club will have been able to do their homework and see if the move is a beneficial one, in terms of an increased level of coaching, support (from both FFSA and club), and increased level of opportunity at their possible new club.

Its always about what is best for the player and their development.

That's one of the reasons I have in the past told players that if they felt they would progress better somewhere else then they should move.

It just doesn't take a genius to work out that if 80% of the best players are at 20% of the elite teams you aren't going to have much of a competition.

The problem with those sanctions you mentioned is that those players are on contracts. Our players are not. They can only be registered to your club for 1 year, as soon as the season ends the aren't contracted to anyone and can move anywhere for whatever reasons they like.

[AWA]

I would say the words would have been we will help you get into w league not we will get you in....big difference.....

And wow 1 player being paid.....and do you know what they are doing to be getting paid.....
This is a big step for womans soccer.....Men get paid why cant women....

Retired...interesting news here.
Who is getting paid and what do they have to do? Clearly you know, be nice to hear how professionalism is getting into Prem level football
Please tell more!

[Unretired]

sorry.....really dont know anything...only rumours

was just saying that if they are its about time....I obviously worded it wrong....

[SAD GAL]

I think I need to wade in here….

If the top clubs are being “looked after” then that’s fine by me. They are the one’s that have stuck it out. Worked damn hard to keep their clubs together and put together very strong sides that are always competitive. They have been (in my opinion) benchmarks for other clubs to follow. If they are being looked after…then I think its well warranted.

As far as Olympic goes…It’s a great community club. Run by some decent people (or when I was there) however, its always cobbled together a side that’s made up of youngies wanting to have a crack at Prems, those in search of another less demanding club where because of numbers you will ALWAYS get a game. They have always been a fun side with good people. Unfortunately, they’re too haphazard with their squads/coaches and the like and it’s a club always hanging by a thread.

Players in women’s comp are like gypsies…club to club to club to club…decisions that are based on where friends are playing at and who’s coaching and maybe somewhere less demanding. After all the women’s comp is a step up from casual social soccer. Any talk of professionalism is pie in the sky.

Players getting paid? Nothing new. When I was at a club about 8-9 years ago, one player who returned from UK was given boots, tracksuit, bag, and much more if they played with W…lets just say another club that has had many name changes and is the centre of some scuttlebutt.

[BLACK SWAN]

How about some of you stop your whining and stop dis-respecting the top four clubs! Building a club is not easy and each top 4 club im sure has dealt with their own heartbreaking situations over the years. Yet they remain as a unit, they retain players year after year and they develope their juniors as best as they can. They implement strategic plans so that the club can remain sustainable year after year. Club Committee, volunteers, coaches, players need to be on the same page. I agree there are certain rulings that make it very difficult for smaller clubs to proceed through to the Premier/State league....but how about picking up the phone and contacting a current Premier league club and asking can you help us? Can you tell us what you had to do over the years to be where you are today?

[Hunter]

Agree with you 100% Sad Gal. There is a higher element of the 'social' side of playing in the Women's game at the highest level compared to the Men, which is of course semi-professional. The players move clubs quite frequently for many reasons such as percieved good coaching, likelyhood of success etc... but an important factor is playing in a group of friends.

There is no doubt that 'poaching' does go on - I could supply direct evidence of it but in all honesty, if a club is providing the 'right' environment for a player, the attempt to 'poach' should be unsuccesful. And the word 'poaching' implies something wrong. Maybe it is unethical but the current rules do not stop players being approached. Frequently, it is done through 'friends' and not directly. It is a fact of life and always has been. Contracts might solve the problem but that will add another layer of bureauocracy for the many volunteers who run the clubs to deal with.

Many of the posts above suggest the game has been on the decline for a while and that FFSA employees are to blame, the structure is all wrong, the new programs are all wrong etc.. Well the truth is - you can't have at both ways. Things have changed - there is a new Head of Women's Football (very positive), the pathway for the best players has been established (very positive). Can I remind you all that the 2011 Premier League was the most competitive for many years. Only South Adelaide were not competitive despite their best efforts. Sturt Marion, who finished in 6th place, were highly competitve throughout the whole season, Fulham improved markedly and the top 4 were even and most of them beat each other at some time. The overall quality could be higher but the competition between the teams was good. There were many strings and posts throughout the season about how competitive the State League was and many of the games I saw were frequently so.

So to build on that by introducing an Under 15 Development side (with players taken from a number of clubs - not just a few) into the competition to help the overall development of players to be able to compete on a National stage is also positive. And this side is not the NTC, which will play in the JPL on a Wednesday and players will be available for clubs on a Sunday -also a positive move. Same deal for the Under 13 and Under 14 squads - again, all positive.

So it is a concern that Olympic and Sturt Marion may not enter teams in the Premier League this season. A competition with last years top 6 + Adelaide Uni + the Under 15 squad could have been really good.

So what has happened? Not sure but here are a few thoughts:
Recruitment by Adelaide Uni (which they are entitled to do) has certainly disturbed the distribution of players.
Quite a number of very good players not playing next year (or in some cases rumoured (?)not to be playing) Sandra Scalzi, Paps, Chi, Jody, Slater, Harry, Nick C injured and in the USA, Trimbles, Balomenos injured, Fimmano injured, plus others???? Will make a big difference.
Qualified and experienced coaches 'left' the Women's game - Dave Leeson, Chris Goddard, Sharon Black and now Paul Sortini. Depends on your opinion, but there is a great deal of collective experience there.
Reserves League is a problem - only 2/3 competitive teams last year. It is a real burden on developing clubs. Maybe the FFSA could re-think the need for a reserves league at all. Better to have an Under 17 or Under 19 competition.
I understand the reasons behind the requirements for junior development teams as a pre-requisite for Premier League membership but I think it is counter productive. In many instances over the years, the juniors follow the succesful Seniors. The newly established development programes which are open to all should help to take care of those concerns and would make it easier for clubs to become established.

So end of story - no I have nothing to do with FFSA - I just care about the game.

[Tottenham Hotspur]

You want stability in clubs, you want to know what players you can have next season..................then get a 2 year contract on all players. At least then clubs , coaches etc can know what they have in players for the coming season. Mens do it. Womens comp is gutless to do it (and its not at club level)
You will always have poaching (as in mens) you just need stability in all clubs. I had more then my share in womens of clubs/opposition coaches poaching players but there aint nothing you can do about it. All clubs want is to be successful (ie win win win), and no one cares about any other club, if they did then there wouldnt be ladders.

[SAD GAL]

The players will jsut opt to stay out of the game. Simple.

You want stability in clubs, you want to know what players you can have next season..................then get a 2 year contract on all players. At least then clubs , coaches etc can know what they have in players for the coming season. Mens do it. Womens comp is gutless to do it (and its not at club level)
You will always have poaching (as in mens) you just need stability in all clubs. I had more then my share in womens of clubs/opposition coaches poaching players but there aint nothing you can do about it. All clubs want is to be successful (ie win win win), and no one cares about any other club, if they did then there wouldnt be ladders.

[mccormickbl]

Fitz as far as I am aware all the players that have gone to uni have come on their own. They have not been poached...including my daughter.....

I only know of 1 player that was approached by the committe and then was told im sorry but we have no room for you.......everyone else decided to move and came out to the trials and some of those players have been turned away also...

I agree.... My daughter chose to go their on her own accord... With the only promise that if she wanted to work hard and whatever her goals were, they'd help her to meet them!

[John Cena]

isnt there a crisis meeting tonight? lets hope those in charge step down and get some new fresh people in there that dont have blinkers on and there own agendas, its just so so sad to see it like this, but more GOOD people will be lost to the game unless something isnt done !im finished with it !

[SAD GAL]

I can see another FFSA Ruling coming on.......

[P.A.O. 13]

Hi everyone,

I doubt any of you would know me however my name is Stavros Parissos. I retired from playing for Adelaide Olympic FC at the end of 2011 and have now become the president at AOFC. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Victoria Balomenos & Angela Fimano last year as they spent a lot of time training with our senior and reserve team.

I only heard about Olympics demise on the weekend and am very disappointed to say the least.

We (AOFC) had been discussing for some time the idea of more involvement with the women's team. Our only hesitance was the fact that we were/are still rebuilding our own club after many years of mismanagement and we all know how much time and effort is needed to run a club.

If there is any way Olympic women's team can be saved or resurrected then please pm me. We are able to help out with facilities, support etc.

Alternatively i welcome all of Olympics supporters, players, coaches the opportunity to join AOFC. You never know what the future may hold. Please feel free to pm me if you're interested.

Regards,
Stavros Parissos