However, Seven has retained first rights to the national league finals series and has committed to showing this season's grand final on June1 on free-to-air. But because of the lateness in finalising the deal, Seven's programmers are struggling to accommodate the finals series, which kicks off in just four weeks. Next season should be a different story, with free-to-air coverage of the finals almost certain and regular-season games - which this season have suffered a television blackout - set to be shown on pay-TV, probably produced by Fox Sports. Unfortunately, this season's extended finals series could well miss the boat.



After Seven offered the finals to all of its affiliates around the country, only Perth - where the Glory games have rated well in the past - showed a genuine interest. As a result, all of the Glory's home games will be shown either live or delayed, while discussions are continuing to show the Glory's away games as well. Other teams in the finals, however, may receive no coverage unless a pay-TV operator fills the void. Seven has indicated it is happy to release the rights outside of Perth to pay-TV if the demand is there.

The conclusion of the Seven deal, meantime, capped an encouraging month for a beleaguered Soccer Australia, the financial position of which is now far less parlous. Re-negotiated sponsorship deals with adidas and Qantas laid the foundation but it was the Seven contract, which included the settlement of all outstanding monies, that was always crucial to SA's cash flow. The governing body cannot rest on its laurels, however, with the SA board due to meet the Australian Sports Commission tomorrow to receive an outline of the Crawford Report into the management of the domestic game. It is not clear how much of the report will be disclosed by the ASC but it is known the Federal Government remains determined to reform the highly political structure of the game. New SA chairman Remo Nogarotto, elected last December, has said publicly he was in charge of a "caretaker" administration pending the outcome of the government inquiry. Whether the other members of the board will be so broad-minded remains to be seen. Ultimately, it is the game's stakeholders who will have to decide whether the recommendations will be implemented or not.

In other news, Fiji will replace New Caledonia as Australia's opponents in next month's world under-17 championships play-offs. Although New Caledonia won their group at the weekend, they will not become full members of Oceania until midway through next year. As a result, the Oceania Football Confederation has decided the group runners-up, Fiji, will take their place in the play-off against the Joeys, with the winner to represent Oceania in the world championships in Finland later this year.