1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,947 Speaker 1: from News Talks EDB. 3 00:00:12,747 --> 00:00:16,987 Speaker 2: To Football at eleven after two on Weekend Sport. Interesting 4 00:00:17,067 --> 00:00:20,867 Speaker 2: survey out this week. Half of the eight league men's 5 00:00:20,907 --> 00:00:25,107 Speaker 2: players are dissatisfied with the running of the league. Twenty 6 00:00:25,227 --> 00:00:29,547 Speaker 2: seven percent very dissatisfied with how the Australian professional leagues 7 00:00:29,787 --> 00:00:33,227 Speaker 2: are performing in their management of the competition. Forty six 8 00:00:33,267 --> 00:00:36,387 Speaker 2: percent have low trust in their ability to improve the league. 9 00:00:36,587 --> 00:00:40,107 Speaker 2: Only eleven percent have a high trust level in the 10 00:00:40,147 --> 00:00:43,787 Speaker 2: managing body. So as things look rather rosie on this 11 00:00:43,867 --> 00:00:46,227 Speaker 2: side of the Tasman around all clind FC and the 12 00:00:46,267 --> 00:00:49,787 Speaker 2: Wellington Phoenix across the competition as a whole, it's not 13 00:00:49,907 --> 00:00:53,507 Speaker 2: tracking that well. Joining us to discuss more is the 14 00:00:53,507 --> 00:00:57,187 Speaker 2: professional Football is Australia CO Chief executive Bo bush Bow. 15 00:00:57,467 --> 00:01:00,147 Speaker 2: Thanks for your time here on news Talk ZBB this afternoon. 16 00:01:00,627 --> 00:01:03,187 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for having me on. Much appreciated well. 17 00:01:03,227 --> 00:01:05,427 Speaker 2: Stats released during the week. Half of all a league 18 00:01:05,467 --> 00:01:09,387 Speaker 2: men's players dissatisfied with how the league is managed, according 19 00:01:09,427 --> 00:01:12,387 Speaker 2: to a survey that the players Union have run. It's 20 00:01:12,427 --> 00:01:16,547 Speaker 2: a philly, damning headline that screams out from the news outlets, 21 00:01:16,587 --> 00:01:18,427 Speaker 2: isn't it bo I. 22 00:01:18,347 --> 00:01:21,027 Speaker 3: Think, Look, the starting point for the players was that 23 00:01:21,147 --> 00:01:23,387 Speaker 3: to have a thriving a league we need to have 24 00:01:23,387 --> 00:01:27,427 Speaker 3: a really effective relationship with the APL to be able 25 00:01:27,427 --> 00:01:29,347 Speaker 3: to rebuild the sport to get it to where we 26 00:01:29,387 --> 00:01:31,707 Speaker 3: know it can be both in Australia and New Zealand. 27 00:01:31,747 --> 00:01:34,707 Speaker 3: And this sort of really clarifies the scale of the 28 00:01:34,827 --> 00:01:36,867 Speaker 3: challenges that we've got that there needs to be a 29 00:01:36,907 --> 00:01:40,827 Speaker 3: significant improvement that the players feel like their expertise and 30 00:01:40,907 --> 00:01:44,747 Speaker 3: their voice isn't able to be exerted in an influential 31 00:01:44,787 --> 00:01:46,907 Speaker 3: way around the governance of the sport to help but 32 00:01:46,987 --> 00:01:50,667 Speaker 3: make better decisions. So this sort of really clarifies what 33 00:01:50,707 --> 00:01:53,187 Speaker 3: it looks like when it's not working. And the hope 34 00:01:53,267 --> 00:01:54,827 Speaker 3: is that this can be a starting point and if 35 00:01:54,827 --> 00:01:56,387 Speaker 3: we do this survey at the end of the next 36 00:01:56,467 --> 00:01:58,107 Speaker 3: year see significant improvement. 37 00:01:58,587 --> 00:02:01,027 Speaker 2: What are the frustrations then that the players have with 38 00:02:01,067 --> 00:02:02,547 Speaker 2: the way that the league is being managed. 39 00:02:03,467 --> 00:02:05,387 Speaker 3: Well, I think if you look at the last few years, 40 00:02:05,387 --> 00:02:08,307 Speaker 3: and particularly the New Zealand players, our Wellington players went 41 00:02:08,347 --> 00:02:11,387 Speaker 3: through enormous sacrifices to be able to ensure that the 42 00:02:11,427 --> 00:02:13,947 Speaker 3: sport could get through COVID and the hope is that 43 00:02:13,987 --> 00:02:17,387 Speaker 3: there would be better times around the horizon. The players 44 00:02:17,507 --> 00:02:20,507 Speaker 3: entered into a long term collective bargaining agreement with the 45 00:02:20,547 --> 00:02:22,907 Speaker 3: APL and the hope was that that would give the 46 00:02:22,907 --> 00:02:25,987 Speaker 3: game a platform to really stabilize its financial basis, and 47 00:02:26,227 --> 00:02:30,347 Speaker 3: unfortunately that hasn't happened. There's been significant investment into areas 48 00:02:30,347 --> 00:02:33,187 Speaker 3: such as keep Up, only for that to be closed down. 49 00:02:33,347 --> 00:02:37,027 Speaker 3: We've seen a lot of uncertainty around the private equity 50 00:02:37,067 --> 00:02:41,107 Speaker 3: investment where that's gone, where it's been invested, when and 51 00:02:41,147 --> 00:02:42,987 Speaker 3: if that needs to be paid back. So these are 52 00:02:43,027 --> 00:02:46,227 Speaker 3: all really important questions that the players currently don't have 53 00:02:46,307 --> 00:02:49,707 Speaker 3: clarity over and importantly, their decisions that have a massive 54 00:02:49,707 --> 00:02:53,227 Speaker 3: impact on the players, but equally they had very little 55 00:02:53,267 --> 00:02:55,547 Speaker 3: say over them as well. 56 00:02:55,587 --> 00:02:57,907 Speaker 2: I guess this doesn't happen overnight, does it? And as 57 00:02:57,907 --> 00:03:00,947 Speaker 2: you mentioned it, the COVID issue has snowboard over the 58 00:03:01,027 --> 00:03:04,867 Speaker 2: last few years. Has these things been fistering for a 59 00:03:04,907 --> 00:03:08,227 Speaker 2: while in terms of the players, I. 60 00:03:08,187 --> 00:03:10,387 Speaker 3: Think a little bit of both. So what's sort of happened? 61 00:03:10,387 --> 00:03:13,467 Speaker 3: As I said that the players had made these enormous 62 00:03:13,467 --> 00:03:16,107 Speaker 3: sacrifices and the challenge was, okay, let's get the sport 63 00:03:16,187 --> 00:03:18,667 Speaker 3: through COVID and let's hope for better times on the 64 00:03:18,707 --> 00:03:21,187 Speaker 3: other side and hope that we've done a collective bargaining 65 00:03:21,187 --> 00:03:23,427 Speaker 3: agreement that goes far enough to do that. Now, we've 66 00:03:23,427 --> 00:03:25,907 Speaker 3: seen some really positive stuff. So we've seen positive stuff 67 00:03:25,947 --> 00:03:29,067 Speaker 3: around the production of young players for examples, and really 68 00:03:29,107 --> 00:03:32,907 Speaker 3: outstanding coaches coming through the investment into academies, you know, 69 00:03:32,947 --> 00:03:35,347 Speaker 3: the emergence of Auckland, So that's sort of all positive. 70 00:03:35,747 --> 00:03:37,947 Speaker 3: But then we've seen this decision making around the Grand 71 00:03:37,987 --> 00:03:40,947 Speaker 3: Final and the like that we really think is not 72 00:03:41,027 --> 00:03:43,587 Speaker 3: optimal and that's put the sport in a really difficult position. 73 00:03:43,707 --> 00:03:46,387 Speaker 3: So that's sort of where it's compounding range of factors 74 00:03:46,747 --> 00:03:49,227 Speaker 3: and just feeling that the sport doesn't have this clarity 75 00:03:49,227 --> 00:03:52,347 Speaker 3: at the moment around where it's headed and how it's 76 00:03:52,387 --> 00:03:54,547 Speaker 3: going to ensure it's successful. So that's really where the 77 00:03:54,547 --> 00:03:58,827 Speaker 3: player's frustration mainly lies, about the moment around a lack 78 00:03:58,867 --> 00:04:00,267 Speaker 3: of certainty over where we're heading. 79 00:04:00,467 --> 00:04:02,427 Speaker 2: Because if you look at it from a New Zealand perspective, 80 00:04:02,547 --> 00:04:05,227 Speaker 2: new team and the competition and theory, if you're looking 81 00:04:05,227 --> 00:04:06,507 Speaker 2: at from the outside and from a new he's the 82 00:04:06,547 --> 00:04:09,387 Speaker 2: lily perspective, everything on this side of the Tasman seems 83 00:04:09,467 --> 00:04:11,067 Speaker 2: rather rosy, but that's not the case. 84 00:04:12,307 --> 00:04:14,227 Speaker 3: Well Look, I think sort of two things can be true. 85 00:04:14,227 --> 00:04:17,107 Speaker 3: At the same time. The emergence of Auckland to come 86 00:04:17,147 --> 00:04:20,387 Speaker 3: into the competition has been a huge positive, alongside the 87 00:04:20,427 --> 00:04:23,427 Speaker 3: consistent sort of excellence of Wellington Phoenix as well too 88 00:04:23,547 --> 00:04:25,867 Speaker 3: on and off the pitch. Those things show us what 89 00:04:25,947 --> 00:04:28,667 Speaker 3: the sport can be. But I think the decision making 90 00:04:28,707 --> 00:04:30,947 Speaker 3: has sort of shown us where we are right now 91 00:04:30,987 --> 00:04:33,627 Speaker 3: and hasn't allowed the impact of teams such as Auckland 92 00:04:33,627 --> 00:04:36,547 Speaker 3: the success of Wellington to ensure that a sort of 93 00:04:36,587 --> 00:04:39,067 Speaker 3: rising tide lifts all boat. So that's the challenge. I 94 00:04:39,067 --> 00:04:42,627 Speaker 3: think these clubs. Whilst we're in a difficult position at 95 00:04:42,627 --> 00:04:45,627 Speaker 3: the moment, clubs such as Auckland and Wellington show us 96 00:04:45,627 --> 00:04:48,107 Speaker 3: what can happen when clubs are run incredibly well, where 97 00:04:48,107 --> 00:04:50,787 Speaker 3: there's good governance and clarity over what they're trying to achieve. 98 00:04:50,867 --> 00:04:53,027 Speaker 3: So it gives us hope. But what we're lacking is 99 00:04:53,027 --> 00:04:55,787 Speaker 3: the strategy around how we translate that league wide. 100 00:04:56,187 --> 00:04:57,987 Speaker 2: Are you able to dig in and go Actually, you 101 00:04:57,987 --> 00:05:00,747 Speaker 2: know Wellington Phoenix, for example, their players are really happy, 102 00:05:00,787 --> 00:05:04,227 Speaker 2: but Western Sydney or whatever. Are at thirty percent? Yeah, 103 00:05:04,307 --> 00:05:06,187 Speaker 2: able to dig in and go one clubse more happy 104 00:05:06,187 --> 00:05:09,307 Speaker 2: than then the other or is it more competition wide? 105 00:05:09,667 --> 00:05:11,507 Speaker 3: No, So what we're able to do we do a 106 00:05:11,547 --> 00:05:14,027 Speaker 3: really comprehensive survey with the players at the end of 107 00:05:14,027 --> 00:05:16,147 Speaker 3: every season and one of the key areas is we 108 00:05:16,187 --> 00:05:18,987 Speaker 3: do benchmark the clubs against each other in terms of 109 00:05:19,027 --> 00:05:23,747 Speaker 3: their workplace experience for the players. What we found was overall, 110 00:05:23,787 --> 00:05:27,187 Speaker 3: the experience in a club environment is really positive and 111 00:05:27,427 --> 00:05:31,707 Speaker 3: is improving. We're seeing greater levels of investment into facilities 112 00:05:31,707 --> 00:05:34,707 Speaker 3: for training facilities. If anyone's had the pleasure to go 113 00:05:34,867 --> 00:05:38,147 Speaker 3: to Wellington Phoenix's training ground, it's truly a world class 114 00:05:38,147 --> 00:05:40,907 Speaker 3: training ground. So I think these sort of things we're 115 00:05:40,947 --> 00:05:43,987 Speaker 3: seeing progress there. Where the concern really lies is in 116 00:05:44,027 --> 00:05:46,907 Speaker 3: relation to the league and the management the overall competition, 117 00:05:47,107 --> 00:05:49,987 Speaker 3: rather than significant issues at the club base where players 118 00:05:49,987 --> 00:05:51,427 Speaker 3: are coming in and working every day. 119 00:05:51,707 --> 00:05:54,267 Speaker 2: The league itself pointed out this was done in May 120 00:05:54,467 --> 00:05:56,467 Speaker 2: and things have changed since the end. So have you 121 00:05:56,547 --> 00:05:58,187 Speaker 2: seen any mark change in both? 122 00:05:59,307 --> 00:06:01,107 Speaker 3: I think there's been some positive stuff. So if you 123 00:06:01,107 --> 00:06:02,987 Speaker 3: look at the start of the season, we have had 124 00:06:03,027 --> 00:06:05,187 Speaker 3: a lot of derbies. There's been some really good attendances 125 00:06:05,227 --> 00:06:08,667 Speaker 3: around that that who signs the APL are doing an 126 00:06:08,667 --> 00:06:11,827 Speaker 3: increased level of content. We're seeing some more fan engagement 127 00:06:11,867 --> 00:06:14,267 Speaker 3: and those sort of things. But I think the underlying 128 00:06:14,387 --> 00:06:17,067 Speaker 3: concern for the players is the governance framework in which 129 00:06:17,067 --> 00:06:20,307 Speaker 3: the sport operates, which is effectively where the club owners 130 00:06:20,347 --> 00:06:22,947 Speaker 3: make up the majority of the board, continues to be 131 00:06:22,987 --> 00:06:26,947 Speaker 3: in place. So the decision making governance framework that allowed 132 00:06:27,027 --> 00:06:30,067 Speaker 3: for the decision around the Grand Final on others remains 133 00:06:30,107 --> 00:06:32,627 Speaker 3: in place. So the players are concerned as to of 134 00:06:32,667 --> 00:06:35,827 Speaker 3: the fundamentals of the sport. What has changed to give 135 00:06:35,867 --> 00:06:38,787 Speaker 3: them confidence that that isn't going to happen again, And 136 00:06:38,827 --> 00:06:41,467 Speaker 3: the reality is that those big pieces of the puzzle 137 00:06:41,587 --> 00:06:42,387 Speaker 3: remain in place. 138 00:06:43,107 --> 00:06:46,387 Speaker 2: Have you benchmarked it against overseas leagues, for example? And 139 00:06:46,427 --> 00:06:48,987 Speaker 2: I know there's different management structures and how they're run, 140 00:06:49,027 --> 00:06:51,467 Speaker 2: but you know, forty six percent low trust in the 141 00:06:51,547 --> 00:06:55,827 Speaker 2: APL professional leagues to deliver the a League strategy. I mean, 142 00:06:55,867 --> 00:06:58,547 Speaker 2: can you compare that to the Premier League or the 143 00:06:58,627 --> 00:07:00,867 Speaker 2: legue or anything like that overseas. Have you got those 144 00:07:00,867 --> 00:07:03,507 Speaker 2: sort of comparisons? Is this widespread or is it very 145 00:07:03,587 --> 00:07:05,387 Speaker 2: unique to Australia and New Zealand. 146 00:07:06,747 --> 00:07:09,587 Speaker 3: We're really fortunate in that for a long period of 147 00:07:09,667 --> 00:07:11,547 Speaker 3: time we've been able to build a really strong and 148 00:07:11,587 --> 00:07:16,187 Speaker 3: effective relationship with our members. That's not always the case 149 00:07:16,227 --> 00:07:18,467 Speaker 3: around the world. And also we're often talking about if 150 00:07:18,467 --> 00:07:20,707 Speaker 3: you look at the English Premier League for example, we're 151 00:07:20,747 --> 00:07:24,587 Speaker 3: talking about more clubs, international players and arranger challenges around 152 00:07:24,627 --> 00:07:28,747 Speaker 3: sort of doing something similar. I haven't seen any evidence 153 00:07:28,787 --> 00:07:31,427 Speaker 3: of this similar type of project having been rolled out, 154 00:07:32,187 --> 00:07:34,507 Speaker 3: but I know that fIF PRO the Global Players Union 155 00:07:34,507 --> 00:07:36,027 Speaker 3: are looking at how they could do this on a 156 00:07:36,067 --> 00:07:38,427 Speaker 3: global scale, so we could answer that question that you 157 00:07:39,147 --> 00:07:42,307 Speaker 3: just asked, but we're not currently there at the moment globally. 158 00:07:42,187 --> 00:07:44,547 Speaker 2: In terms of that vision and strategy to improve the 159 00:07:44,587 --> 00:07:46,747 Speaker 2: A League. We're looking at it from New Zealand perspective, 160 00:07:46,987 --> 00:07:49,787 Speaker 2: of course, having two New Zealand teams in there. What 161 00:07:49,787 --> 00:07:51,627 Speaker 2: do you think that's done for the competition over the 162 00:07:51,707 --> 00:07:53,827 Speaker 2: last few weeks since it kicked off. 163 00:07:54,987 --> 00:07:56,747 Speaker 3: I think it's been fantastic. You know, you look at 164 00:07:56,827 --> 00:07:59,867 Speaker 3: on the pitch that've been incredibly successful. They've recruited well, 165 00:08:00,187 --> 00:08:03,347 Speaker 3: they've prioritized local New Zealand talent and I think that 166 00:08:03,467 --> 00:08:06,467 Speaker 3: appears to have been really well received by the local community. 167 00:08:06,787 --> 00:08:08,307 Speaker 3: But I think there's a lot to learn from the 168 00:08:08,347 --> 00:08:11,907 Speaker 3: successful role out of expansion. It's been pretty fraud in 169 00:08:11,947 --> 00:08:15,467 Speaker 3: Australia and New Zealand football history, expansion has not been 170 00:08:15,507 --> 00:08:17,907 Speaker 3: something we've often got right. But I think when we 171 00:08:17,947 --> 00:08:20,947 Speaker 3: look at the experience that we've had with Auckland today 172 00:08:21,507 --> 00:08:23,867 Speaker 3: is that we've got an incredibly strong ownership group there 173 00:08:23,907 --> 00:08:26,787 Speaker 3: with multiple people involved with a range of different skills. 174 00:08:27,027 --> 00:08:30,067 Speaker 3: We've got a good infrastructure base, and we've also importantly 175 00:08:30,147 --> 00:08:32,747 Speaker 3: got a really strong market that's really keen to engage 176 00:08:32,747 --> 00:08:34,947 Speaker 3: in football. So I think that's the learning from that 177 00:08:35,027 --> 00:08:37,787 Speaker 3: of making sure that those three fundamentals are in place 178 00:08:38,187 --> 00:08:40,267 Speaker 3: for any way we expand, and then we're confident that 179 00:08:40,307 --> 00:08:43,747 Speaker 3: the sport can be successful in Auckland. Have have proved 180 00:08:43,787 --> 00:08:45,787 Speaker 3: that and there've been a real breath of fresh air 181 00:08:45,867 --> 00:08:47,147 Speaker 3: into the competition today. 182 00:08:47,707 --> 00:08:50,067 Speaker 2: Interest levels obviously have been elevated on the side of 183 00:08:50,067 --> 00:08:52,627 Speaker 2: the tasment, both for the Auckland and Wellington big Derby 184 00:08:52,667 --> 00:08:56,907 Speaker 2: coming up nixt week. I suppose from a players association perspective, 185 00:08:56,947 --> 00:08:58,707 Speaker 2: how do you ensured that you touched on it there? 186 00:08:58,747 --> 00:09:01,307 Speaker 2: But it doesn't fizzle out once that the derby's over, 187 00:09:01,347 --> 00:09:03,947 Speaker 2: and perhaps there's a couple of losses that the interest 188 00:09:04,027 --> 00:09:06,747 Speaker 2: levels do remain high in both of those teams. 189 00:09:07,667 --> 00:09:09,947 Speaker 3: Well, I think what's been really clear with both clubs 190 00:09:10,027 --> 00:09:13,307 Speaker 3: is they're incredibly connected into the local community. So they're 191 00:09:13,307 --> 00:09:16,547 Speaker 3: having a significant impact on the local sporting community, the 192 00:09:16,587 --> 00:09:18,307 Speaker 3: work they do in schools, the work they do in 193 00:09:18,347 --> 00:09:21,347 Speaker 3: grassroots clubs. So they're not just about sort of whether 194 00:09:21,507 --> 00:09:24,227 Speaker 3: I think the popularity shouldn't just rise whether they win 195 00:09:24,427 --> 00:09:27,187 Speaker 3: or lose. They've become far more important already, even in 196 00:09:27,187 --> 00:09:30,307 Speaker 3: their short history in Auckland, to the local community. So 197 00:09:30,387 --> 00:09:33,627 Speaker 3: that's really really fundamental. So I think that's the key 198 00:09:33,707 --> 00:09:35,627 Speaker 3: part of these guys playing the long game. You know, 199 00:09:35,667 --> 00:09:39,227 Speaker 3: the ownership group there, people like Bill Foley, Tim Brown 200 00:09:39,267 --> 00:09:42,547 Speaker 3: and others know that sort of market. Well, they know 201 00:09:42,667 --> 00:09:46,267 Speaker 3: what a successful club looks like, and it's really evident 202 00:09:46,307 --> 00:09:48,067 Speaker 3: that they're willing to play the long game. So I'm 203 00:09:48,067 --> 00:09:50,347 Speaker 3: really confident that, you know, there may be some ups 204 00:09:50,347 --> 00:09:52,747 Speaker 3: and downs, but I certainly don't think this is just 205 00:09:52,787 --> 00:09:56,667 Speaker 3: a matter of Auckland being successful at the start and 206 00:09:56,707 --> 00:09:59,147 Speaker 3: being something new. It looks like they're making a really 207 00:09:59,187 --> 00:10:03,507 Speaker 3: long term commitment to Auckland and that's fantastic to see. 208 00:10:03,787 --> 00:10:07,307 Speaker 2: Just finally, by make that survey and the dissatisfaction, I 209 00:10:07,347 --> 00:10:09,267 Speaker 2: suppose what would you like to see, say we're chatting 210 00:10:09,267 --> 00:10:12,987 Speaker 2: in twelve months time, to be implemented by the APL 211 00:10:13,107 --> 00:10:15,627 Speaker 2: to ensure that the A League is prosperous for years 212 00:10:15,627 --> 00:10:15,987 Speaker 2: to come. 213 00:10:17,027 --> 00:10:18,707 Speaker 3: I think what we'd like to see a big shift 214 00:10:18,827 --> 00:10:22,227 Speaker 3: is moving away from this unilateral model where leagues and 215 00:10:22,267 --> 00:10:25,107 Speaker 3: clubs actually just come down and make decisions that have 216 00:10:25,147 --> 00:10:27,827 Speaker 3: a significant impact on players without them even having the 217 00:10:27,827 --> 00:10:30,147 Speaker 3: opportunity to influence those. So we want to see a 218 00:10:30,187 --> 00:10:33,227 Speaker 3: shift there so that anything that impacts players, whether that 219 00:10:33,307 --> 00:10:35,947 Speaker 3: be expansion, whether that be the entry of private equity, 220 00:10:36,507 --> 00:10:39,427 Speaker 3: even TV right still that the experience of players can 221 00:10:39,467 --> 00:10:42,067 Speaker 3: help elevate those decisions. Some of our members have played 222 00:10:42,067 --> 00:10:44,707 Speaker 3: at the highest levels of the sport all around the world, 223 00:10:44,787 --> 00:10:47,227 Speaker 3: so they've got a lot of expertise we can influence 224 00:10:47,267 --> 00:10:49,947 Speaker 3: those decisions. But also importantly we can move away from 225 00:10:49,987 --> 00:10:53,467 Speaker 3: this sort of employer employee relationship and actually become business 226 00:10:53,507 --> 00:10:56,907 Speaker 3: partners where they're shared incentives around making this sports successful. 227 00:10:56,947 --> 00:10:59,707 Speaker 3: So that's where we'd really like to move the relationship 228 00:10:59,747 --> 00:11:02,867 Speaker 3: between the APL and the clubs and with the players. 229 00:11:03,107 --> 00:11:05,267 Speaker 2: Well watch the space on that front both. Thank you 230 00:11:05,307 --> 00:11:07,107 Speaker 2: so much for your time with us on News Talks EDB. 231 00:11:07,787 --> 00:11:10,187 Speaker 2: Look forward to watching that matter with progress. Appreciate it 232 00:11:11,067 --> 00:11:13,707 Speaker 2: no wayes. Thanks for your ton Bye Bush, the co 233 00:11:13,947 --> 00:11:19,107 Speaker 2: CEO of the Professional Footballers Association looking after A League players. 234 00:11:19,147 --> 00:11:21,867 Speaker 2: Interesting to get that perspective because from a New Zealand perspective, 235 00:11:21,907 --> 00:11:25,187 Speaker 2: the a leg's going absolute great guns at the moment. 236 00:11:25,387 --> 00:11:27,067 Speaker 2: Some of the players are a lot of the players 237 00:11:27,587 --> 00:11:29,987 Speaker 2: looking at some of those numbers that Bo mentioned there 238 00:11:29,987 --> 00:11:32,467 Speaker 2: and that the articles and the survey has suggested that 239 00:11:32,947 --> 00:11:35,427 Speaker 2: aren't in favor of the way that the A League 240 00:11:35,867 --> 00:11:36,387 Speaker 2: is heading. 241 00:11:37,067 --> 00:11:40,227 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 242 00:11:40,347 --> 00:11:43,747 Speaker 1: to News Talk ZEDB weekends from midday or follow the 243 00:11:43,787 --> 00:11:45,267 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.