Time to blow lid off restrictive salary cap
THIS Bruno Fornaroli saga is perhaps the greatest example of how the salary cap is stifling the A-League and discouraging clubs investing in genuine marquee players.
Remove the salary cap, open up a transfer system between clubs, and City Football Group would be among the owners who would sign bigger name players, knowing its investment was protected.
Right now, its $1.5 milliona-year commitment to Fornaroli is washing away in a sea of red tape, which is inhibiting the league’s growth and creating a merry-go-round that is frustrating fans.
You can disagree with Warren Joyce’s handling of Fornaroli, but he and the club reserve the right to sell, for it is not the first time a star player has fallen out with his coach.
Let us envisage this scenario under a system where transfer fees were allowed between clubs — which likely will come into play if and when the cap is removed.
Perth Glory, Sydney FC and Adelaide United, the three clubs that have shown most interest in Fornaroli, would negotiate with City, who would name its asking price.
Say City puts a $300,000 transfer fee on his head, the club(s) would submit the offer and away they go.
Usually the player would land at his desired destination (let us say Glory), and if Sydney FC has bid $400,000, City could request Glory up its offer. Perth may oblige, or negotiate to meet in between, but a deal would likely be done.
Joyce would then be free to launch a bid for a striking replacement, and could offer $350,000 to Brisbane Roar for Adam Taggart.
Brisbane may sign a readymade replacement or, in a sea- son where it will not make finals, may invest for the future by buying several talented young players.
The market will determine the prices, with players’ age and on-sale value key factors.
In isolation, it seems a lot of money, but opening up a transfer market between A-League clubs would create a whole new economy and fresh, intriguing storylines.
Nothing has the fans’ juices flowing more than transfer news — the August and January deadline days in Europe, especially England, are epic, with Sky Sports providing around-the-clock coverage.
The AFL trade period has also become big news.
These transfer stories would command more TV time and column inches than any other A-League storylines.
Importantly, it will also encourage clubs to invest in genuine marquee players.
Now there are few examples of clubs recouping their marquee investment, with Sydney FC bucking the trend last season by making around $1 million from the sale of Bobo.
Fornaroli, at 31 and coming off a serious injury, is a harder sell to Asia where he is “unknown”. But in Australia, clubs are more willing to buy him as he is a goalscorer.
Removing the salary cap would encourage clubs to offer longer-term contracts to stars, knowing they can cash out down the track if things do not work out.