Arnold, fresh from guiding the Olyroos to the next stage of qualifying for Tokyo 2020 in his dual role as Under-23s boss, is on a pilgrimage to strengthen the nation’s fractured youth pathways.
While saying it was premature to provide specifics on how much more cash the ruling body would pledge, FFA director Joseph Carrozzi said Arnold’s calls for enhanced backing for the Joeys, Young Socceroos and Olyroos had been heeded.
Against a backdrop of qualifying for only five of the last 14 tournaments at youth level, the closure of the AIS, and dearth of camps and competitive matches for Australia’s next generation, Carrozzi acknowledged the need to stop the rot.
“Graham’s dual role has given him a front-row seat to what the next five years look like,” Carrozzi told The World Game.
“He’s done lots of analysis to show us where we stand.
“A part of the plan of the New Leagues Working Group (which will determination the structure of a new independently run A-League) is how we can focus on making the elite pathways of the national teams stronger.
“Money is a big component of that and that’s what we as a board are looking to provide.
“Luke Casserly (head of national performance) is being given the mandate to optimize all the assets we have to achieve these goals.
“We need to look at where the teams are at and what building blocks we need to put in place.”
With Asia’s leading nations streaking ahead of Australia in youth development, and the traditionally weaker nations catching up fast - or even overtaking - the need for action is acute.
Running in parallel to the funding issues are A-League clubs who offer the vast swathe of their youngsters precious little game time, further hindering their progress.
Then, when they are called up - as was the case for last month’s Olyroos camp in Malaysia ahead of the AFC Under-23 Championship qualifiers - coaches like Kevin Muscat and Markus Babbel raised objections to stoke the club versus country fires.
“We need to find a way to ensure that the clubs play their part in giving our most talented youngsters the game time they need to maximize their potential,” added Carrozzi.
“Addressing all these issues is the sort of brief we’re looking at addressing in the second half of the year.
“We are a sport where there are so many national iconic teams of all ages.
“It’s our job as a board to provide the opportunities for talent to flourish and we have to use those platform well.
“That’s what we’re here for: to develop future heroes at national team levels.
“I think the clubs recognize the important part they play in all this.
“We are all in this together to make it happen. I think the board is quite bullish about this.”
Arnold, frustrated in particular by the intransigence of the clubs, has called for a forum with A-League coaches to delve into the dilemma, and has hinted he may quit to concentrate purely on the senior team if no progress is achieved in the release of players.
Carrozzi insisted Arnold’s job sharing role was more about the coach’s determination to help the latest crop of rookies transition to the senior set up than an attempt at cost-saving.
That process has stalled during the last two Olympic cycles with only the likes of Daniel Arzani and Jackson Irvine breaking through.
“Graham has been all about looking at the emerging talent and ensuring they have the best chance to move forward,” he explained.
“It was a very strategic decision for him to do that which is good.
“I think when the technical director comes on board (said to be former Melbourne Victory youth chief Rob Sherman) the situation (regarding under age coaching) will be looked at across the board.
“It’s not a funding issue. Graham wanted to take the role as a strategic measure because he is so committed to player development.
“I didn’t know Graham personally before this but he’s a very impressive thinker and analyst of the game.”
