Chief football writer for the Australian, Ray Gatt has revealed that the Football Federation Australia (FFA) are desperate to get Tim Cahill to the A-League, in an exclusive chat on Wednesday’s edition of the Daily Football Show.
Gatt explained the FFA’s position in yearning for true star power, something lacking since the days of Alessandro Del Piero.
“They [FFA] are pulling out all stops to get Timmy [Cahill] to the A-League, and understandably. They want to make him the face of the national competition.
“The timing is perfect with the broadcast rights deal still to be negotiated,” Gatt said.
The FFA are set to amend the rules surrounding guest talent for the 2016-2017 season despite the financial unviability this poses to most clubs. The amended rule will allow each club to sign an additional player outside of the salary cap.
“It’s going to hurt some clubs. Obviously there’s only three to four that can realistically add that guest player,” Gatt said.
“I think the other clubs understand they can also benefit if the right players are brought to the A-League in terms of getting a better broadcast deal.”
However, the problem of manufacturing a competitive A-League could rear its ugly head, according to Gatt.
“It could make for a lopsided competition if all those four clubs what is effectively a third marquee,” he said.
While the amended rule has been proposed to clubs, it was met with initial hesitation due to the perceived injustice that the FFA are bending rules for the City Football Group (CFG), who are reportedly in pole position to sign the 36-year-old Cahill.
Australian football’s governing body has given clubs clear guidelines surrounding the potential signing of a guest player, with improvements in attendance and television numbers a key focus.
“The FFA are specific in what they want. If you going to bring in a marquee guest player, it’s got to be someone of really high value like a Del Piero, or someone of that ilk,” Gatt said.
“You can’t afford to waste that spot on someone that’s not going to grab the imagination.”
In this week’s other big news surrounding returning Socceroos, Gatt maintained he has doubts surrounding reporting linking veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was on the brink of signing for Sydney FC.
“I’d be very surprised of [Mark] Schwarzer comes back to the A-League. His family are very well settled over in England. I know his son is a very good player, he’s a striker with the Fulham youth team,” he said.
“I reckon he might be picked up by another club in England.”
“I think he said before that he wouldn’t consider the A-League, so I doubt we’ll see him here.”
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