''Committees mean nothing, they have no power,'' he said. ''The power is on the [FFA] board, and that's what the owners want - a seat on the board. We don't want to take over the running of the league, because that's the animals running the zoo. But we do want to be involved in the decision-making process, and that means representation at executive level.''

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley has sympathy for the owners but was evasive on whether a place on the board was the answer.

''What we've said to the owners this week is that we'll look at ways for them to be more engaged, to give them more input into strategic policy,'' Buckley said. ''We've agreed to come back to them by February after we've taken into account their views, and once we've fully digested the Smith report.''

Sage, meantime, admits the cost of running a team in the youth league - estimated at $400,000 a season - is a burden he could do without. Although he is committed to a youth team under the 10-year licence agreement he signed last year, he may seek an exemption.

''I'm a huge fan of youth development, it's a major focus of Perth Glory,'' he said. ''But the fact is, because of the extra travel involved compared to the other clubs, it's a huge cost for us. Perhaps it makes sense that, until the [A-League] is financially viable, we ask for an exemption. The cost of travelling a youth team around the country is ridiculous, and it might be we'd get just as much benefit if we had it playing in the local state league competition. Let's minimise costs, isn't that what the Smith report is saying?''