CONSENSUS.

It’s a dirty word in the modern world. It’s almost non-existent in politics, and the advent of “social” media into our everyday lives doesn’t appear to have led to any greater level of understanding or co-operation - more the polarisation of views.

You’re in one camp or another, black or white.

Yet football in Australia at least, is in real need of finding some middle ground. Some consensus, on how to work together, to try and fulfil the potential of this great game of ours. The good news? We’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of growth. The bad news? The internal politicking, and subsequent lack of strategic thinking, is acting as a huge handbrake to that growth.

As things stand, FFA and A-League clubs (supported by the two major state federations - New South Wales and Victoria), are diametrically opposed as to how to move forward on the issue of the congress - the electoral body that dictates policy, to decide how the game is run. Already, the original March 31 deadline for agreement has passed.

Simon, Adam Peacock and Daniel Garb discuss this further in this week’s Fox Football Podcast.

As I understand it, FFA has offered 9+3+1 in a new expanded electorate - 9 state federations, 3 for the clubs, 1 for other interests. The clubs want 9+6 (or 5 at a push) +2. Neither is in a mood to compromise. FFA is reportedly dangling an independent A-League as the carrot to accept the lower figure.

The clubs’ view, is that 25% of the vote gives them a chance to have a say in policy making decisions - any less, and they will be railroaded by the governing body, whom they also don’t trust to deliver the stand-alone A-League. FFA aren’t keen to cede that much power, fearing the clubs will run the show, and the national teams (of which they are the guardians), and grassroots will suffer as a result. Both appear to have fair claims.

Yet the current impasse isn’t helping anyone - not least the A-League, which, if the current rumours of a lengthy delay to the next EGM are true, runs the risk of having the start of season thirteen overshadowed by this ongoing game of Russian roulette.

David Gallop. Source: AAP

The sad part in all this, is that on many levels, the game has never been healthier.

Australia are Asian champions, the A-League has just signed it’s richest-ever TV deal, participation levels are through the roof - in short, despite the current roadblock, the stocks of football in Australia have never been higher.

Yet we appear to be back to the days of internal squabbling, with no resolution in sight. Both sides are hunkering down for the long game, and the ultimate embarrassment of having FIFA coming in to issue a diktat to end the stalemate, is not far away.

No one comes out of this smelling of roses.

Certainly not FFA, whose inertia under the new board has led us to today’s state of affairs. Not the clubs, whose bitterness towards head office has become personal against the individuals involved. Not those in the background, agitating for revolution, because the sports evolution has stalled. Everyone it seems, is bogged down by self-interest, and has lost sight of what is really important - the game.

So what now?

Both FFA and the clubs claim they have FIFA support for their position.

The reality is - Zurich’s view, while crucial in the short-term, won’t amount to a hill of beans in the long run.

Ultimately, governing body, clubs, grassroots, everyone, must work together.

Listen to some, and they will tell you those relationships are fractured beyond repair - but if there is good will on all sides, then it’s never too late. It can’t be, because even if a ruling is handed down from on high, one side or the other is going to be disappointed, angry even.

The warring factions must get back around the table, and find a resolution. Heavens, if Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionists can work together in Northern Ireland, then this should be a piece of cake.

Consensus is required, for the good of the game. Because there is so much to be done, and so much NOT being done, while this bottleneck remains unresolved.

And because if FIFA - that most discredited of governing body’s - has to come here and preach to us as to how to sort this mess out, then we really have hit rock bottom.

If that happens, the games leaders have failed us, and each other.