JETS chief executive Lawrie McKinna has welcomed the return of the FFA Cup and believes the adjustments to the format will add excitement to the national knockout.
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The Jets boss also expects to welcome Bernie Ibini back to training on Wednesday in what is hoped to be the end of the contract saga with the wantaway forward.
Ibini, whose request for a release from the final year of his contract was turned down, has not trained with the squad since last Tuesday.
The 28-year-old had been in talks with a club in Thailand, but after consultation with the Professional Footballers Australia players union, which has been acting as a mediator, he will be back on deck with the Jets.
Ibini took 10 days stress leave last month, and with the Jets to kick off their campaign against the Mariners on New Year's Eve, he is behind in fitness.
"I spoke to the PFA today and they are expecting Bernie at training tomorrow," McKinna said. "If there is anything different, I asked them to message me."
McKinna said it was great to have the FFA Cup back after the governing body confirmed the knockout will be on the calendar in 2021 after it fell victim to COVID-19.
Next year's FFA Cup winner will receive a preliminary round spot in the Asian Champions League as part of several changes to Australia's national cup competition.
The change offers further incentive to win the FFA Cup and means clubs from any level of Australian football could potentially compete in Asia - provided they meet AFC club licensing regulations.
"It is great to get that competition back and hopefully we have a good run in it," McKinna said.
"We played Edgeworth [in 2019] and they had over 4500 people there. Daniel McBreen scored an absolute bomb and it was like wow. We won 5-1 but it was a great night for football in the region."
Among other changes, the FFA confirmed the FFA Cup final from next year will be played at a neutral venue, while both the final and semi-finals will take place on stand-alone weekends.
From the round of 32 - the point where A-League clubs enter the competition - there will be an open draw for the first time, though clubs will be divided into four geographic zones.
The number of final-round slots for both A-League clubs (10) and member federations (22) remains unchanged, meaning the bottom four 2020-21 A-League clubs will have to play off for two spots in the FFA Cup round of 32.
The preliminary rounds will start in February, with the final rounds planned between July and November.
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James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
