Outgoing Central Coast chairman Richard Peil has accused Football Australia (FA) of threatening the future of the A-League Men (ALM) by launching a national second tier (NST) next year.
FA last month unveiled a format for a 16-team NST set to kick off in October 2025.
But Peil said FA's decision to launch the competition next year lacked logic particularly given cash-strapped ALM clubs are struggling to make ends meet with current central distributions at a historic low of $530,000 per season.
FA has had no say in the running of the ALM and A-League Women since 2021 when control of Australia's top-flight competitions was handed over to the Australian Professional Leagues (APL).
Peil, who stepped down as Mariners chair in October after sinking more than $7 million into the club, claimed FA chief executive James Johnson was not "genuinely interested" in helping the ALM.
He said it was likely that the NST would draw sponsorship dollars away from the ALM.
"I have no issue with a second-tier competition but I have a massive issue with a second-tier competition being launched over the next two seasons, while the APL is stuck in the current TV deal and distribution has been reduced," Peil told AAP.
"When I came on board the annual distribution was $2.35m and now it's $530,000, I don't get why you'd launch this NST when clubs, particularly the small ones, are struggling - that's a major reason why I got out.
"The A-League can survive if everyone works together, but I don't believe that the FA, which is headed by James Johnson, are genuinely interested in helping the A-League.
"The FA certainly didn't always act like they were interested in helping the A-League, or at least not the Mariners, while I was involved."
Peil said one of the first steps FA could take to show they had the interests of the existing top-flight clubs at heart would be to assume the running of the ALW.
He said the ALW had a proven track record of developing women's national team players, which has laid the foundations for the Matildas' recent success.
As a consequence FA was able to net a multi-year TV deal for Matildas games, the 2026 Women's Asian Cup and the 2027 Women's World Cup.
In response to Peil's comments, Johnson said: "The NST is designed to complement the A-Leagues, not compete with them, by creating a connected pyramid that strengthens pathways and opportunities for players, coaches, officials, referees, and clubs.
"The establishment of the NST follows extensive consultation with stakeholders across Australian football over many years, including the APL, and aligns with our shared vision of sustainable growth for the game.
"This initiative aims to unlock new opportunities for investment and engagement, while continuing to support the A-Leagues as the elite professional tier in Australia.
"The relationship between Football Australia and the APL has never been stronger, and we are committed to working collaboratively to ensure Australian football thrives at every level, building a united and sustainable future for the game."
