Originally Posted by
Onyatoes
As with most things in local football, the rumour and innuendo is short on fact. New Lambton FC did not apply because despite attempts to satisfy their due dilligence with NNSWF, they could not find common ground on what a new look NPL would look like. Nor any satisfaction that an NPL would look any different to what an NPL currently looks like in NNSWF which, (if we are honest), is a competition short on quality, depth, youth development, gender equality and suitable resources (Magic Park the best in Newcastle is testament to this). The 17 clubs who have applied fall into 2 buckets, the existing NPl clubs who are all but guaranteed, and the NL1 clubs who have applied thinking that they had to in order to stay in a second tier (or who genuinely think they can go up). The criteria is stretching for 10 teams, let alone 17. It is the preference of the NNSWF Board to see a 12 team NPL. Any less and the miniscule relevance that NNSWF has on the national stage now is diluted further. If The Jets go to Sydney (unlikely that they have the cash), two spaces open up. Cooks Hill and South Cardiff have the facilities albeit both will require work and probably $80k -$100k in capital to cover wages for players and staff. All other teams then fall into whatever a second tier looks like. NL1, Northern Second Division, NNSWF Conference League, whatever. It wont be branded a NPL 2 as there wont be enough teams compliant with an NPL licence to form a competition to justify Premier status. If Cooks Hill and Southy go it leaves Kahibah, West Wallsend, Wallsend, Belswans looking for opposition. NNSWF have confirmed, that any club can apply for an NPL licence from 2021 and any underlying second tier club would need to win a second tier AND meet all requirements for NPL, to gain promotion. If a compliant club does win a second tier, an NPL club will be relegated. NNSWF might put a cap that there needs to be at least 60% of second tier clubs who do qualify to enact this rule. It may take a few years. New Lambton sources that I know are smart dudes. They satisfied every part of NPL criteria except a ground but they have a very close association to both The Newcastle Council and State and Federal Members that sees them well placed once Council finish their audit on local sports ground usage in Spetember to pounce. They have formal development plans across 3 grounds pending, huge juniors and competitive Youth teams in all ages of NL1. Jim Foley will lead a Coaching review in 2020 and they are appointing a Football Operations team to drive Mens Youth and Womens programs to the next level. Their message is that they prefer to sit and watch to see what transpires around them. One official told me last night that with all the conjecture, New Lambton also see very little benefit in supporting an NPL that does not suitably cater for WPL representation as part of NPL licences. With New Lambton being one of the only clubs who feature a WPL program, their decisions are based on the interest of their entire club, not just the 200 odd male NL1 numbers. New Lambton will feature in a second tier in 2020, a second tier that will have Youth teams aligned to the NPL ages and most probably one that will feature Thornton, Toronto, Singleton and Cessnock. Maybe....unless those clubs see no benefit in an eventual NPL push which would see them seek Zone affiliations. Hopefully that clears the air. NPL 2020.......dont get too excited as it will be the same old same old....with a little lipstick applied to the same old pig. 2021 and beyond....? Who knows what will happen but tread cautiously is the advice of those South of The Gully Line.
