City Football Group (CFG) [Owner of Melbourne City]

[Jimmy]

Is M13 drunk?

[belaguttman]

49 minutes ago, Shahanga said:

Ok now I'm catching up. I can see that sponsors would like this. Previously I only considered it from the perspective of fans.

Hmmm... I seem to recall something in the news about fans being important

[Shahanga]

6 hours ago, belaguttman said:

Hmmm... I seem to recall something in the news about fans being important

That's only in the A League. In CFG world it's not the case.

[jw1739]

1 hour ago, Shahanga said:

That's only in the A League. In CFG world it's not the case.

I've been reflecting on that all day. When ManC first took us over, on the day after (24th January 2014) there was a public letter from the CEO of Manchester City, Ferran Soriano, to members and supporters published on the Heart website. I have a copy. The following is an extract:

'Naturally, this process will also include hearing from fans, members and partners that have supported this Club during its short history. We want to listen and learn first, and take well-supported decisions immediately thereafter.

The one thing we already know is that we will work hard to deliver very good football. Melbourne coaches and players will have access to City’s world-class global football resources, including scouting, coaching, human performance and performance analysis. It is also expected that players and coaches from Melbourne will spend time at the City Football Academy (CFA) - a world-class facility for football training and development that will open adjacent to the Etihad Stadium in Manchester in July 2014.

I understand that many of you will have questions about the future of the Club. We are committed to sharing information with you as soon as we can. However, as I stated yesterday, out of respect for the players and coaching staff in the middle of the Hyundai A-League season, we will not be making any more major announcements until the end of the current season.'

On the 15th April 2014 there was a meeting of the FRG. Scott Munn, David Lyon and Simon Pearce represented the club. The full report of the meeting is too long to reproduce here, but it contains the following:

'It is imperative for City to build a global brand.  For them to achieve this, they believe there must be easily identifiable synergies with Manchester and New York.  They indicated an acceptance that Heart is Red & White.  Acknowledging this, they intend to introduce sky blue into the club (as well).  They committed to achieve an outcome whereby the majority of supporters are in acceptance AND that will be respectful to the (albeit short) history of the club.  They were no commitments given with regard to a change in name, however, again they indicated that all processes undertaken in building the desired global brand will be respectful to Heart, the existing fans and club history.'
but then:

 ' It was said that City must continue building on what Melbourne Heart already has - there is no desire to create a mini Manchester City, because it won’t work. '

What I feel has happened since those early commitments is that a change has taken place. In the nearly two years that have followed, to my knowledge there has never been a follow-up letter from Soriano, nor any letter from Simon Pearce (who I understand is now the Chairman of the Board of Melbourne City). Our local CEO Munn, and John Didulica, have been muzzled. Yes, many good things have been done. IMO the new name and badge are generally accepted. Other achievements of note are the building of our training, rehabilitation and administrative facility at Latrobe, increase in support staff, formation of the women's team. The FRG has been continued. Fan initiatives such as Cityzens and City Voice have been introduced. The Villa loan was a fiasco. The visit of Manchester City to Melbourne was a fiasco and the truth had to be extracted line by line from Latrobe - it was never volunteered.. The widely tipped loan of promising young players to us has never eventuated. Almost everything now from the club is awash with sky blue and too much navy.

Most importantly of all I contend that the failure of Soriano, Pearce and Munn to follow up that very first letter from Soriano is a major fail. What happened to the commitment to "share information"? What it says to me is that the fans, supporters and members of Melbourne Heart and now Melbourne City do not really count in the branding equation. As an enthusiastic supporter of the takeover at the time, and a Foundation Member of Melbourne Heart I am very disappointed.

Edited December 8, 2015 by jw1739

[Shahanga]

Jw I hear you. In regards to those 2 correspondence events you refer to I have previously just referred to them as "the CFG lies". In this instance I'm not trying to be a smart arse, it's just the most succinct way to describe their communication at those times . Since then they've continued to show their contempt for fans, with their latest saying that "stakeholders" we're very enthusiastic about the sky blue etc etc, when they meant "sponsors", as fans are clearly not (to them at least) stakeholders.

So here we are choosing to support a club that for their own part holds us in contempt. But it's ok you can enter a poll telling them what your favourite rap song is.

[wombegongal]

I think I understand the problem here. We have won two games in a row so we have to complain about ownership. Hopefully we lose this week so everyone jumps back to the 'sack JVS' thread.

[Jovan]

14 minutes ago, wombegongal said:

I think I understand the problem here. We have won two games in a row so we have to complain about ownership. Hopefully we lose this week so everyone jumps back to the 'sack JVS' thread.

Wrong.

We need to discuss the Sausage stand.

[wombegongal]

17 minutes ago, Jovan said:

Wrong.

We need to discuss the Sausage stand.

True thats a win/ win. So we can win this week and discuss sausage stands instead of coaches or boards.

[belaguttman]

This would be important to raise at the next FRG meeting

[jeffplz]

just to put my opinion out, hate the lack of solid identity too. The league has too many blue clubs.. city, victory, sydney, ccm, jets? if we can get our colors down properly (it being not blue) i'd love it

[benzema23]

On 8 December 2015 at 6:34:09 AM, Dylan said:

It's quite funny that people bemoan 'modern football' yet seem to be happy to use marketing  buzz word bullshit to suggest how we need and can create an 'identity'.  

Melbourne Heart was a hell of a lot more 'plastic' than Melbourne city so far have been.

A group of people come in, Choose a name that ment nothing, pick the opposite colours to the other team in Melbourne and in 5 years end up being nothing more than a counter point to that club.

Exactly, thank you!

[Murfy1]

A-League crisis averted as clubs to be handed greater control after meeting with FFA

 

David Davutovic

December 09, 2015

 

PLANS for a breakaway A-League have been postponed after Football Federation Australia gave disgruntled club owners greater control of the game’s immediate future.

Clubs were appeased after Wednesday’s meeting at FFA HQ, with new FFA chairman Steven Lowy agreeing to crucial changes and financial transparency in the short-term.

The biggest development was the FFA ratifying a new committee giving clubs more ownership of TV rights negotiations and future marketing strategies, including the recruitment of marquee players.

Melbourne City board member Simon Pearce and Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow will be the club representatives on the committee, which will include Lowy, chief executive David Gallop and other FFA executives.

While the FFA has been handed a reprieve, moves for an independent A-League are gathering steam in the background and the issue was discussed at the meeting.

Club heavyweights emerged from the meeting at FFA HQ, which lasted almost five hours, in a far more buoyant mood than when they entered almost five hours earlier.

Several club officials refused to go on the record but revealed that talks were “positive”, a sentiment echoed by Melbourne Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro who was last week scathing of FFA.

“We didn’t go there expecting a magic wand (to be waved) but we were heartened by the energy of the new chairman and what was delivered by FFA’s management team,’’ Di Pietro said.

“There are projects that are going to be worked on between the clubs and governing body together that will not only remove tension but create transparency and unity.

“There’s going to be review and action on a raft of issues and there is a commitment to work jointly to work out how to maximise growth for the game that leads to sustainable future.’’

The meeting took place just hours before Gallop was due to convene with fan representatives from each of the 10 clubs to try and resolve longstanding issues which have led to the boycotts of the last two rounds.

The FFA have pledged to be more transparent with their running costs and financials while the clubs will now play a key role in negotiating a new TV deal and marketing ideas.

“We had a very productive discussion. We have a common objective, to take the game where it is today and move it forward,’’ Lowy said.

“They (foundations) do feel shaky today, our objective is to take the shakiness away.

“The foundations have clearly been built — the A-League, our entry into Asia, the success of the Socceroos. They need to be strengthened.’’

 

 

http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/a-league-crisis-averted-as-clubs-to-be-handed-greater-control-after-meeting-with-ffa/story-e6frf4gl-1227639749345

[Dylan]

9 hours ago, Murfy1 said:

A-League crisis averted as clubs to be handed greater control after meeting with FFA

 

 

 

David Davutovic

 

December 09, 2015

 

 

 

PLANS for a breakaway A-League have been postponed after Football Federation Australia gave disgruntled club owners greater control of the game’s immediate future.

 

Clubs were appeased after Wednesday’s meeting at FFA HQ, with new FFA chairman Steven Lowy agreeing to crucial changes and financial transparency in the short-term.

 

The biggest development was the FFA ratifying a new committee giving clubs more ownership of TV rights negotiations and future marketing strategies, including the recruitment of marquee players.

 

Melbourne City board member Simon Pearce and Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow will be the club representatives on the committee, which will include Lowy, chief executive David Gallop and other FFA executives.

 

While the FFA has been handed a reprieve, moves for an independent A-League are gathering steam in the background and the issue was discussed at the meeting.

 

Club heavyweights emerged from the meeting at FFA HQ, which lasted almost five hours, in a far more buoyant mood than when they entered almost five hours earlier.

 

Several club officials refused to go on the record but revealed that talks were “positive”, a sentiment echoed by Melbourne Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro who was last week scathing of FFA.

 

“We didn’t go there expecting a magic wand (to be waved) but we were heartened by the energy of the new chairman and what was delivered by FFA’s management team,’’ Di Pietro said.

 

“There are projects that are going to be worked on between the clubs and governing body together that will not only remove tension but create transparency and unity.

 

“There’s going to be review and action on a raft of issues and there is a commitment to work jointly to work out how to maximise growth for the game that leads to sustainable future.’’

 

The meeting took place just hours before Gallop was due to convene with fan representatives from each of the 10 clubs to try and resolve longstanding issues which have led to the boycotts of the last two rounds.

 

The FFA have pledged to be more transparent with their running costs and financials while the clubs will now play a key role in negotiating a new TV deal and marketing ideas.

 

“We had a very productive discussion. We have a common objective, to take the game where it is today and move it forward,’’ Lowy said.

 

“They (foundations) do feel shaky today, our objective is to take the shakiness away.

 

“The foundations have clearly been built — the A-League, our entry into Asia, the success of the Socceroos. They need to be strengthened.’’

 

 

 

 

http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/a-league-crisis-averted-as-clubs-to-be-handed-greater-control-after-meeting-with-ffa/story-e6frf4gl-1227639749345

Well looks like CFG are looking to influence things. No surprise Sydney is in there given they seem to think that they are the biggest club apparently. Pretty surprised there is no victory representative.

Murf you said Munn said at the frg meeting that they would like to invest more money but won't do until there is more control. Did he mention specific things at all?

[Torn Asunder]

Things like sponsorship / partnership restrictions and not being able to run an independent website were examples

[Shahanga]

7 hours ago, Torn Asunder said:

Things like sponsorship / partnership restrictions and not being able to run an independent website were examples

The independent website thing just strikes me as "control for controls sake". Only an imbecile would see it as vital for the league 

[malloy]

2 hours ago, Shahanga said:

The independent website thing just strikes me as "control for controls sake". Only an imbecile would see it as vital for the league 

A shit rule yes, but not a rule without reason as iirc it is to do with sponsorship and 'official partners'. I think optus were a partner once and the website template had something to do with them. 

Someone like JW or Murfy may be able to clarify.

[M13]

I think it´s inevitable that in the long run the league will go independent.. also meaning that the league will have its own agenda of course

[Murfy1]

On ‎10‎/‎12‎/‎2015‎ ‎10‎:‎55‎:‎14‎, malloy said:

A shit rule yes, but not a rule without reason as iirc it is to do with sponsorship and 'official partners'. I think optus were a partner once and the website template had something to do with them. 

Someone like JW or Murfy may be able to clarify.

 

I'm not sure what the exact rules are with websites. Optus used to be an FFA sponsor, and they did have some sort of agreement with the the FFA when they were a sponsor with regards to websites:

Quote

 

Optus will create, operate, manage, market and commercialise FFA-s websites, mobile websites and mobile phone applications under its appointment as FFA-s Official Digital Partner following a competitive tender.

These digital channels will connect fans to the Qantas Socceroos, Hyundai A-League and the 10 Hyundai A-League clubs, Westfield Matildas and the rest of the international and domestic teams and competitions conducted by FFA.

 

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/optus-gets-behind-football-as-ffas-official-digital-partner/f4uxtthzys9n18cnf0vunu16o

 

But Optus hasn't been a sponsor since 2013 (see here http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/optus-severs-cash-ties-with-footy/story-e6frg996-1226655480621 ), so I'd be surprised if there were any real restrictions preventing the FFA from changing club website if they so wished.

 

I do know that Melbourne City are rather miffed about the lack of control over their own website, and the club does feel that it is excessive and unnecessary, as A-League websites were used as the prime example at the FRG meeting of the lack of freedom A-League clubs have (and conversely the excessive control A-League clubs feel the FFA has). So Melbourne City seemed pretty keen to have there own website in the future, and didn't seem to think there were any serious restrictions preventing the club from having its own website in the future.

[Falastur]

15 hours ago, Murfy1 said:

I do know that Melbourne City are rather miffed about the lack of control over their own website, and the club does feel that it is excessive and unnecessary, as A-League websites were used as the prime example at the FRG meeting of the lack of freedom A-League clubs have (and conversely the excessive control A-League clubs feel the FFA has). So Melbourne City seemed pretty keen to have there own website in the future, and didn't seem to think there were any serious restrictions preventing the club from having its own website in the future.

Makes sense. The inverse happened with NYCFC. When the club was created, they used a similar template to Manchester City's website - a very modular design which they had invested a large sum of money into, and which has won nearly consistent "best sports website in the UK" awards for about the last five years. Then suddenly, out of nowhere one day, MLS insisted that they had to change it to the default MLS style and just like that it was changed. I'm pretty sure that, given the option, CFG would have all of their websites using the template that they spent good money to custom-design.

[Torn Asunder]

Quote

Why competition's richest club Melbourne City are failing to succeed in A-League

Date

December 13, 2015

Michael Cockerill

Football Writer

Money is no object to Melbourne City, so why are we still waiting for the A-League's richest club to make an impact?

 

While smaller, poorer, clubs bear the brunt of the latest round of scaremongering about the viability of the league, the club with no excuses remains the biggest disappointment. Something needs to change.

 

Leading into next weekend's Melbourne derby, City's crowds (average 7370) are the lowest in the league. In total, fewer than 30,000 people have watched their four home games so far. Woeful. Having disenfranchised so many of those fans who once supported Melbourne Heart, the new owners have failed to add any new fans since the takeover. Indeed crowds have dropped around 20 per cent since the rebranding.

 

In isolation, maybe this doesn't matter too much to the City Football Group, who bought the club for $11 million just over two years ago. It's not even small change for the organisation which owns EPL heavyweights Manchester City, and recently sold a 13 per cent stake to Chinese interests for around $400 million.

With clubs now in New York and Yokohama as well as Melbourne, and a war chest of at least $3 billion topped up by the vast wealth of the Abu Dhabi royal family, CFG are on a mission to dominate world football. But shouldn't they dominate the A-League first?

 

 

 

The hope, the expectation, was that Melbourne City would become market leaders right from the start. 

 

Sadly, they've been more like followers instead. Scraping into the finals in the first season of new ownership, and while they're in the mix after 10 rounds of this season, they've still to convince as serious title contenders. More importantly, the off-field benchmarks are drifting.

 

There's been some suggestion the club is still upset that the FFA refused to allow them to play in their preferred colours of sky blue, and until that changes they're operating a go-slow. Surely not, although the appearance of sky blue socks this season (from white) indicates it may remain a sore point. 

 

Melbourne City shouldn't be prevented from wearing sky blue because Sydney FC object. They should be stopped because wearing a replica Manchester City strip presents them as a feeder club – no more, no less. One day they'll figure out why that's market poison, but if the FFA does relent – and the word is it might – then they'll have to find out the hard way.

 

As it stands, on the issues which matter, Melbourne City haven't yet properly embraced the A-League, nor has the A-League embraced them. Decisions like prising Luke Brattan out of Brisbane Roar to join Manchester City on a technicality – thus depriving another A-League club of a potential seven-figure transfer fee – are bewildering. Retaining Robert Koren as a marquee player when they could take their pick of some of the biggest drawcards in the world is equally perplexing.

 

Melbourne City may be able to afford to lose big – they'll probably account for around $7 million of the predicted losses of $17 million across the league this season – but not everyone else can. If the financial might of CFG was used to help build the whole of the business, everyone wins. Including Melbourne Victory, who desperately want their local rivals to offer genuine competition on and off the park.

 

Perhaps CFG is finally starting to see the light. Last week, disgruntled owners met new FFA boss Steven Lowy to air their grievances. One of the outcomes of a meeting later described by Lowy as "productive" was the appointment of Melbourne City boss Simon Pearce to a new committee to drive negotiations for new sponsorships and the all-important next broadcast deal. In other words, a leadership role at last.

 

No one wants Melbourne City to fail. There's too much riding on them succeeding. We've seen what a difference a vibrant, robust, second club in Sydney makes to the profile of the A-League. When are we going to get one in Melbourne as well?

 

 

[bt50]

8 minutes ago, Torn Asunder said:

 

Some good points, but I don't feel that its a particularly well researched article. A few moot points, particularly in regards to crowds and the 'Brattan Transfer Fee'

[Dylan]

Typical Cockerill. Looks at some thing from afar. Makes some guesses and writes an article

[jw1739]

Some pretty tortuous conclusions drawn there. Crowds dropped pretty much right across the A-League after the Asian Cup. City crowds are actually higher this season than the average non-derby crowds for our first three seasons, so the argument that we've lost "so many Heart fans" is false. But the main conclusion is that somehow CFG are supposed to "help build the whole of the A-League business" without giving a single reason as to why we should.

No mention of our leadership in creating CFA Melbourne...

Sure CFG have made some decisions that City supporters find curious, but I challenge the statement that we're not a "vibrant robust" club.

[DFG_82]

Can't win either if we start winning each week and get bigger crowds idiots will just say we have an unfair advantage because we are owned by CFG. 

[tigerou812]

Just because we have "money". He does know that the league has a salary cap. You can't just go and buy a new team. 

[Torn Asunder]

Yes our crowds are an issue in terms growth, however the club seem to have an ongoing aggressive strategy (membership) to build numbers and are rightly trying to hype up our most recent wins ...

Would be good to see a TV commercial cutting together a few of our recent goals which have been pure (world) class. Package those highlights together with some slick editing and from an outsiders perspective we are going to look like a team people will want to come and watch.  Any ambitious kid wanting to be a striker / forward will learn a lot watching Bruno ... and of course Mooy is a level above at present.

[Tonyboozeadams]

what a dick. Couple of obvious points made but overall just negative horseshit.

[jw1739]

2 hours ago, DFG_82 said:

Can't win either if we start winning each week and get bigger crowds idiots will just say we have an unfair advantage because we are owned by CFG. 

Of course, that already happened with our women's team.

[belaguttman]

I posted a reply that The age has declined to publish

Quote

Yes it's true. When the 2nd Melbourne license was granted, it was given to a group of Melbourne business men with no football experience. They wanted to create a franchise with a focus on grass roots community involvement and they did that pretty well but they had no idea about football or about what made a team successful. They recruited poorly year after year, invested next to nothing in facilities or back room support, hired an inexperienced coach because he had media experience and the attitude amongst the players was summed up by David Williams, "If we win we win, if we lose we lose".

 

Despite this the franchise attracted plenty of supporters, if it had performed on the field and managed to retain them then it would have around 20,000 season ticket holders. The problem is that the on-field performance was so 'heart-wrenching' for supporters that few could bare to return. I know that none of my friends who have been to a Heart/City game will return for love or money, even with a free ticket. Melbourne is one of the most competitive and sophisticated sporting markets in the world. There are international events throughout the year, the behemoth of the AFL and its stranglehold on the media and the 5 years of market monopoly for Melbourne Victory. Rather than putting thought into this very important expansion franchise, FFA put in none. Heart has been the only franchise that has never required financial support from FFA, and along with it not being in Sydney, it's lack of success was ignored by both FFA and the largely Sydney based football media.

 

The CFG franchise purchase was largely welcomed by Heart fans although with some concerns. We all supported the name change and the badge change but the colour change has been divisive and many Heart supporters left. Melbourne doesn't have the geographical identities of the 2 Sydney teams and although all HAL franchises are plastic, City has struggled to identify itself as a Melbourne entity rather than a satellite of CFG. Its place in the CFG hierarchy was clarified to MC supporters with the David Villa debacle, and although the franchise has generally recruited well this season and heavily invested in infrastructure, JVS remains a divisive figure for fans and is seen as one of the root causes of the reliably erratic performances that drive audiences away. The franchise is still a work in progress but I think that change has really come too late to attract the crowds and support that the city deserves. Thanks FFA, thanks football media.

 

[Imperial Pints]

1 hour ago, Torn Asunder said:

Would be good to see a TV commercial cutting together a few of our recent goals which have been pure (world) class. Package those highlights together with some slick editing and from an outsiders perspective we are going to look like a team people will want to come and watch

This. Splice in some of the womens team's highlights as well and the fans will come. The quality is here, no gimmicks (#believe, trams, villa etc) required.

Edited December 14, 2015 by Imperial Pints

[Heart_fan]

Why hasn't Mike focused on Sydney FC? 

To me the biggest disappointment is them. The reasons why include:

- Had the market to themselves for over 6 years

- Has had a fairly successful time on the park over its time

- Has had 2 of the biggest marquees in the comps history (Del Pierro and Yorke)

- Has not invested anything significant in facilities or an academy over its time 

- Still can't hold the interest of crowds and struggles to get more than 15k at the best of times

- Lost significantly hefty amounts of cash over its time

If Mike took off his SFC rose coloured glasses for once he would see that even by investing big money in big name marquees it still doesn't guarantee continued support. 

Going on to discuss big losses for City just glosses over all the years that SFC have bled red ink on their P&L.

It's time to be fair Mike. Yes, CFG may have made mistakes but it's by no means a situation that one should overlook some even more worrying issues in your own backyard.

Edited December 14, 2015 by Heart_fan

[belaguttman]

12 minutes ago, Heart_fan said:

Why hasn't Mike focused on Sydney FC? 

 SFC rose coloured glasses

Fixed

[Luke]

SYdney media say no more 

[bt50]

Not to mention the fact that citys losses are largely made up of their new state of the art facility...

[jw1739]

Yes, we could look at one or two things Melbourne Heart/Melbourne City has brought to the A-League and FFA.

1. Depending on the season, round about 75,000 spectators attending non-derby matches held at AAMI Park.
2. Depending on the season (where the derbies are held) between 90,000 and 105,000 spectators attending the three Melbourne derbies.
The above adding between 165,000 and 180,000 additional spectators per season to the code - a useful statistic the FFA can boast about in its pissing contest with the other codes and with the TV channels competing for A-League TV rights.
3. The only fully-functional training, medical, sports science and administrative complex under the absolute control of an A-League club - City Football Academy, Melbourne - which also functions as City Football Group's centre for its football operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

[Cityamatic]

Don't know if this has been confirmed, but It's just popped up in my twitter feed that Juve & Spurs will be here for the Int'l champions cup in July next year, along with another yet to be named Euro side - and the Tards. Yet another mountain for CFG to climb to try and raise both our profile, and the supporter base.

Fortunately, we'll probably get to play another team on the Gold Coast, or Cairns, or - do they have a ground in Port Headland?

 

FFS.

[haz]

10 minutes ago, Cityamatic said:

Don't know if this has been confirmed, but It's just popped up in my twitter feed that Juve & Spurs will be here for the Int'l champions cup in July next year, along with another yet to be named Euro side - and the Tards. Yet another mountain for CFG to climb to try and raise both our profile, and the supporter base.

Fortunately, we'll probably get to play another team on the Gold Coast, or Cairns, or - do they have a ground in Port Headland?

 

FFS.

With games confirmed for both Sydney teams against Arsenal in 2017 already, I don't see us playing any European teams other then Manchester City in the near future. 

[n i k o]

Wonder how much that'll help them when we end up on top of the league. Rather we focus on building our profile at grassroots level, playing npl teams and have a great marketing campaign after this season. 

 

In saying that I wouldn't say no to playing one of the big clubs.

Edited December 17, 2015 by n i k o

[Jovan]

Prefer a pre season tournament with Bergers Hellas and Knights at their grounds. (Or any other npl).

[hedaik]

Dont really care about international friendlies, got no interest in paying $50 for a meaningless game played on a cricket or footy oval. 

Edited December 17, 2015 by hedaik