Mark Bosnich is calling for greater transparency into the finances of the A-Leagues as the players' union reiterates calls for an independent board to steer the competition out of choppy waters.
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The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announced a slew of redundancies at head office this week, citing the need to "create efficiencies".
Australia's top tier male and female competitions have been run independently of Football Australia since unbundling in 2021.
The APL netted a $140 million cash injection from private equity firm Silver Lake soon after its split from FA for a 33 per cent share in the business.
A PR firm representing Silver Lake declined to comment when contacted by AAP.
Several club bosses have privately indicated the cost-cutting was an indication the competition needed to live within its means after a significant outlay spent on its digital arm over the last three years.
But former Socceroos goalkeeper Bosnich said he had serious concerns about the A-Leagues' change in direction.
"If it wasn't for the crowds and the TV viewers being so low, I would start thinking about seriously telling people to not pay for a (TV) subscription," Bosnich told 2GB.
"(I'd say) don't go to another game until you find out what's going on.
"This money is the game's money and where has it gone?"
A-League commissioner Nick Garcia told staff on Monday of the impending cuts which came after the launch of the competition's inaugural Unite Round.
Garcia and APL chair Stephen Conroy were unavailable for comment, the latter currently overseas.
Conroy chairs a seven-person board that includes representatives from Brisbane Roar, Sydney FC, Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix as well as an FA-nominated representative and Silver Lake director Stephen Evans.
While disheartened by the news of mass redundancies at head office, Professional Footballers Australia co-chief executive Beau Busch said players still "strongly believe in the future of the A-Leagues".
But Busch claimed the sport would be stuck in the same cycle until there was fundamental change to how the APL made key decisions.
"From the Crawford Report in 2003, to the New Leagues Working Group in 2019, the players have strongly advocated for an independent board which they believe is fundamental to good governance and effective leadership," Busch said.
"While the impact of the collective bargaining agreement is delivering a range of positive trends, and the quality on the pitch is entertaining, decisions made in absence of player input have too often been self-defeating, while the players are being forced to carry the burden."
Australian Associated Press
