Football Federation Australia has announced that NPL players signed by A-League clubs will be exempt from the salary cap, in new competition regulations released on Tuesday.
According to the rule, clubs can pay a Mature Age rookie – over the age of 21 – outside the cap “to encourage talented players being signed from the National Premier Leagues”.
The player must not have participated in a fully professional competition for 18 months prior to signing in the A-League, and must have last played football in Australia.
The player will be paid at least the minimum salary, which has also been lifted from $51,000 to $55,000.
The new regulation would mean a player like Heidelberg United’s 28-year-old striker Dan Heffernan, on trial at Central Coast, would be exempt from the salary cap should the Mariners offer him a professional contract.
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Other A-League regulation changes include: Loyalty player allowance of up to $200,000 for players who have played between 5-10 years at the club.
The existing Home Grown Player allowance outside the Salary Cap lifted from $150,000 to $200,000 for up to three players who started their careers with their respective club.
Salary Cap Banking will allow clubs to carry over money not spent inside the Salary Cap in the previous two seasons to the following season, up to 105% of the Salary Cap in the relevant contract year.
The Salary Cap floor (minimum amount that needs to be spent) is lifted from 85% to 90%. The length of the maximum stint for a Guest Player has increased from 10 to 14 weeks.