Robbie Slater has launched an all-time blistering attack on the Australian Professional Leagues and its running of the A-League following Monday’s open letter from chair Stephen Conroy.
In that letter to fans, Conroy detailed a change in strategy from the APL, with digital media arm ‘KeepUp’ to be closed, with the APL to instead “focus on growing and converting our core fanbase” rather than the casual fan.
It comes after widespread layoffs in the ‘KeepUp’ department in January this year.
Former Socceroo and current Fox Sports commentator Slater described it as a “very expensive joke” and questioned where the $200m broadcast deal with Network 10 and Paramount had disappeared to.
“The bull---t I hear coming out, I mean just tell us where the money has gone. That’s what we need to know, that’s the first step in this process, admit your mistakes, apologise and don’t come out with bull---t letter saying we’re changing this and we’re not going for the casual observer,” Slater pleaded on *SEN's Whateley.
“We should 100 per cent going for the casual observer, that’s what we want! They just went the wrong way about it. I mean for god’s sake, KeepUp was a very expensive joke.
“They put out a page saying goodbye to everyone, patting themselves on the back and saying what a great job they did. Get back to normal media and marketing, that means train stops, tram stops, on buses… you’ve got to market the game. '
“You can’t forget about the digital side, but you can’t forget about the most important part and that’s eyeballs.
“They still seem like they want to go down that road… the core supporters are running away in droves. The troubles in the A-League stem not only from the administration and what’s happened with the administration, the wasting of $120 million in two and a half years, we need an independent audit on where the money went because that was the game’s money as well… as usual, the fans are the ones leaving in droves.”
He added: “Come out and admit what you did wrong.”
KeepUp is reported to have cost the APL $30 million.
Slater went on to slam the standard of refereeing across the competition and the production quality across both the men’s and women’s A-League, describing some games as “unwatchable”.
He believes many of the APL’s issues stem back to the decision to leave Fox and enter unchartered territory with a landmark deal with 10 and Paramount.
Slater’s plea echoes that of Mark Bosnich and Wanderers coach Mark Rudan in recent weeks, who have all hit out at key decisions from the league.
In his statement, Conroy stated the APL has seen “good growth across core metrics”, citing that crowds are up for both the women’s and men’s game, while television audiences have also risen.
But to that positive spin, Slater said: “What a load of crap”.
Listen to his full interview below
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