Slater: Rebooted A-League competition could hit new heights ahead of most important season in history

The Australian Professional Leagues, which has run the A-League since the FA’s “unbundling” of football at the end of 2020, continues to have a difficult job in trying to restore the competition after the massive and inexcusable mistakes made by the organisation’s previous honchos.

Stephen Conroy, Nick Garcia and their small staff are working extremely hard under severe financial constraints to deliver an A-League product we can all be proud of.

However, such is the enormity of the task, particularly in a year where new broadcast deals are likely to be discussed, the APL could do with some help, and there is no shame in that.

That’s where FA and its chief executive officer James Johnson.

While there has been a much-needed thawing of the ice in recent times between FA and the APL, it’s a relationship that needs to further grow and prosper for the sake of our national competition.

To what extent FA should become involved is for both parties to work out, but it’s essential the sport’s national governing body is part of the A-League’s rebuilding process.

FA’s intention to start a national second division should be shelved.

Instead, everyone should be working together to improve the A-League. There is no point in having a national second-tier league if Australia’s top-flight competition is struggling.

Despite the tough situation the A-League is in, you can sense some optimism about the season ahead, and that’s what we need.

A lot of that is to do with two of the competition’s biggest clubs ­ - Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers ­– signing marquee, world-class talent in Douglas Costa and Juan Mata.

Costa and Mata have played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, and A-League fans should feel privileged that they have decided to showcase their talent in Australia.

Bringing players of such pedigree -­ regardless of whether they are near the end of their careers – to the A-League has worked in the past in terms of getting bums on seats and more people watching at home.

The perfect example of that was the impact Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero had on the competition during his couple of seasons here.

That was again Sydney FC bringing a player of Del Piero’s ilk to Australia.

Full credit should go to the Sky Blues, who have always led the way in respect to securing marquee talent that benefits not just them but the entire Australian football fraternity.

That’s not to say other clubs haven’t also contributed in the same way, and in terms of the Wanderers, signing former Chelsea and Manchester United star Mata is a decision that should be applauded.

My understanding is that Mata’s signing is going to lead to a lot of Manchester United fans who live in Australia and previously weren’t attending A-League games making the decision to take a greater interest in the competition and go to watch Mata and Western Sydney play.

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This is perhaps already evident by suggestions that there is going to be a sellout crowd at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night for a Sydney derby that will have Mata and Costa going head-to-head in a bumper opening-round schedule that also includes a grand final rematch between Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory.

The Mariners have proven in the past two seasons that you don’t need a big budget and household names to be successful.

However, the likes of Mata and Costa add to the excitement and drawing power of a competition fighting hard to lift its image and standing in Australian sport.