With reports emerging of a possibility of the PSL increasing the number of teams to 18, Soccer Laduma looks at the financial implications and why it's not likely to happen.
With Royal AM giving the Premier Soccer League scheduling complications, there's been talk that the PSL executive is considering having 18 teams in the league, which is something they had until Ria Stars and Free State Stars were liquidated, reducing the number of clubs to 16.
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The Siya crew has been giving insight into why it's unlikely to happen. With three knockout competitions in the PSL, and clubs participating in the CAF competitions, there are at times concerns over fixture congestion. A cost of including two more teams in the top flight would be high for the PSL, with grants going to the teams every month.
The increase of teams would cost the club bosses even more, considering the amounts of money required to host matches and to travel and secure accommodation.
There's been an issue of club chairman struggling to run their clubs financially, which has led to quite a few of them deciding to sell their statuses.
According to a source who has spoken to the Siya crew, there are concerns over the buying and selling of clubs that would create even more uncertainty when there's more clubs in the top flight. And with clubs often struggling to find sponsorship to keep them afloat, it's going to be a challenge to keep clubs alive in the long run.
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"I see people talking about an 18-team league. That thing is not going to happen. They need to call a BOG (Board of Governors) with all 32 members. It's something that needs to be discussed and agreed upon. It's going to affect promotion and relegation.
"Already, as it is, the league is not making enough money. So, they would have to spend about R30 million per club and that's too much. Where is that money going to come from? This thing of the 18-team league won't happen."
