SOCCER
NPLV
By samuel darroch
THE Gippsland Soccer League is poised to submit a non-binding expression of interest to establish a franchise in the National Premier Leagues Victoria competition this year, following two emergency meetings at Latrobe City Sports Stadium last month.
The move comes after Football Federation Victoria called for a new round of EOIs since deciding to forge ahead with the NPLV in 2014, despite a drawn out legal battle which held up planning and execution of the new league.
GSL member clubs voted to tentatively pursue a licence after attending an information session detailing changes to the original NPLV structure – forced by a Supreme Court battle between FFV and dissenting co-signatory clubs over the model’s implementation – and a question and answer evening with FFV chair Nick Monteleone in December.
The GSL elected not to submit an application under the initial NPL model last year, but relaxations to the entry criteria reignited local interest in the scheme, which is set to act as a nationally consistent second tier of football behind the A-League.
Total franchise costs, estimated to be about $500,000 under the previous framework, could be reduced by up to half under the revisal, which includes a $40,000 plus GST licence fee.
Strict coaching accreditation requirements have also been reduced.
Other changes include a $2000 cap on junior registration fees and the adoption of a player points system which encourages the promotion of local talent.
Successful applicants will still be required to field eight teams – under 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s, 16s, 18s, 20s and seniors – in season one, with under 17s, women’s and girl’s sides all to be included in 2015.
Despite the overhaul, the GSL’s primary concerns remain unchanged.
If successful, the GSL would face a logistical labyrinth to secure funds, and the required quality and quantity of players, in addition to establishing a separate administrative board to oversee the franchise, all within months of the proposed 7 February announcement of licenses.
“Do we have the time to put together a proper setup? It’s a big organisation to get set up in a month or two months,” GSL vice chair Peter Boyes said.
“The hardest thing there is how we go about getting more people who are interested, people who want to be involved.”
The GSL, if offered a licence, has the option to forward it on to another entity or amalgamation of existing clubs, which could alleviate strain on developing a new panel.
However individual clubs face the same challenge to juggle their community football needs.
“We need more people who are prepared to get on board with being involved with the running of it,” Boyes said.
“The GSL can’t run it as both – community football as well as the high end,” Boyes said.
Costing looms as another roadblock, with player fees, corporate sponsorship, fundraising efforts and syndicates all on the table as options.
“If we go ahead with it and put in an actual application we’re going to have to start off with pretty much the bare bones minimum in terms of being able to fund it,” Boyes said.
“Because of that short time frame it makes it really difficult.”
With successful applicants bound to the competition for a minimum of three years before the introduction of a promotion/relegation system with FFV state leagues, a prominent school of thought from GSL clubs was to hold off an application in order to build a foundation in preparation for a tilt at the NPLV in 2017.
However, Boyes believed it was now or never for Gippsland.
“The reality of it is once these licenses to clubs are given out you’re going to find it very difficult to get another crack at it,” he said.
“Personally I don’t believe that we’re going to get this opportunity again, if we don’t go with it this time I think that’s it.
“It’s too easy to say ‘it’s all too hard we’re not going to bother’, the reality is it’s probably the best opportunity we’ll ever have, and have ever had.”
Local clubs were also concerned about losing players and significantly reducing the quality of play within the local GSL competition, but Boyes believes access to premier competition would provide long term gains.
“Those players when they come back to their clubs will be better players for it and the experience they bring with them will be beneficial there,” he said.
“You’ve got to be fair to the player, at the end of the day players who are good enough to get somewhere have got to be encouraged to do so.”
With many talented local players currently forced to travel to Melbourne for top level competition, Boyes said an NPLV side could offer much needed access to premier football within Gippsland.
“The reason they’re doing that is to get that better competition and it would be fantastic if we could provide it here in Gippsland,” he said.
“It’s important that they’re playing really good competition every week… there’s no doubt that we’ve got talent and if we can nurture that and provide a pathway for them I think we can see a lot more Johnny Hutchinsons and people like that coming through Gippsland and getting somewhere.”
Boyes said the strength of a Gippsland bid would be its facilities, in particular Latrobe City Sports Stadium, and a depth of junior talent.
He acknowledged the seniors would likely struggle at the outset, but believed bringing youth through the ranks would lead to a brighter future.
“We will face a battle especially in the early days. It will take time but the fact we have three years guaranteed gives us time to improve on that,” he said.
“You can’t come into a competition that is such a high lift in standard and overnight expect to be on top.”
Boyes said the league required further information before committing to the scheme, with a final meeting slated for 13 January ahead of a 20 January deadline, and required whole-hearted support from the Gippsland soccer community.
“The clubs have got to support it; if the clubs don’t support it then it’s not worth doing,” he said.
“It is going to be a big ask… (but) I’d rather go to bed at night thinking we gave it our best shot and it wasn’t good enough rather than going ‘what if’?”
The GSL is eligible to apply for a license as a “regional entity”.
Anyone interested in being involved with the Gippsland NPLV bid in any capacity should phone the GSL office on 5134 8888.
