Herald today confirms that Zane has departed Magic to coach Jets youth. John Benis to coach Magic
Any news from New Lambton this silly season? How will their pre existing squad hold up in the NPL?
From the NNSW press release
“ Provide options to establish promotion and relegation in men’s football in northern NSW, extending from NPL Men’s NNSW to the Zone Premier Leagues”
“Provide options to improve outcomes of the Junior Development League with a focus on cost and elite player development pathways”
Why wait until 2025?
If this were to happen...If NL are good enough, they will win promotion again. Yes, unfortunate and unfair that they won promotion and then it gets taken away, but it would be for the betterment of the game. The alternative would be to drop the last 2 placed teams from last season's NPL. Probably the better solution in all honesty
"It is not that I am afraid to die; its just that I don't want to be there when it happens" - Woody Allen
I think we could go similar to the English system.
Relegate last and have a playoff between the 2nd and 3rd last teams for the other team to be relegated.
Promote the team who wins the comp and have a playoff between the 2nd and 3rd teams for the final promotion place.
lakes and buds, last every year not really too complicated , on who needs to be dropped.
until the new CEO, and structure at NNSWF is in place, it would make common sense to then put a timeframe for this to occur. 2025 is the appropriate year to take place, otherwise ad hoc decisions and management continues and the football brand continues to spiral in decline.
as to 8,10,12 or 14 teams, opinions vary to the clubs spending 1000's on players, with additional rounds to pay, magic, edgy and jaffas would prefer 6 team comp, less games, less player payments.
next year, when the payments are taxed, silly spending i believe will reduce, clubs wont be able to afford.
2x 8 team 3 round comps (first and second division, the remaining clubs join ZPL also with a promotion and relegation play-off should the ZPL team wish to be promoted to second division) with promotion and relegation would provide the best football spectacle in NNSW... it really is that simple... 10 teams is the next best, however, regular season only 18 matches... 8 teams 3 rounds is a 21 match regular season... and play top 4 final series.
All opinions expressed here are my own.
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -Benjamin Franklin
How about 2 x 8 team competition, NPL1 and NPL2. 3 rounds for each division.
End of season - top 4 teams in NPL1 play normal semi/final competition, bottom 4 NPL1 teams play off with top 2 NPL2 teams in six team semi/final format to decide next seasons promotion relegation.
Bottom 4 NPL1 teams seeded 1 through 4, and top 2 NPL2 teams seeded 5 and 6. 1 v 6, 2 v 5 and 3 v 4. The 2 lowest ranked losing teams play NPL2 next year, other 4 in NPL1. Then 2 highest placed winners play-off in a final, perhaps a sponsor can call it the "Sponsors Cup".
This provides several advantages. Firstly the number of games played, especially among the strongest clubs. Secondly, it encourages continual interest in game results for bottom 4 NPL1 teams needing to finish as high up the table as possible to improve chances of remaining in top division. And perhaps most importantly, it means that any promotion from the 2nd division is based on merit, where a team will be truly competitive.
Of course this suggestion may require some tweaking, but the idea is about providing sufficient number of meaningful games, along with providing a pathway to promotion, but only if a team or club is truly worthy and capable of the step up.
That's where the plan might need some tweaking, but it would require 5th and 6th placed teams to lose to NPL2 teams for 5th place team to be relegated as well. Plan isn't designed for automatic promotion for both or any NPL2 teams, unless they are good enough to earn it. Happy to have this format scrutinised, just hope whatever the method, it accomplishes the purpose of meaningful games as well as promotion/relegation based on ability and not just a forced movement with no gainful advantage.
It could alternatively be a bottom 4 play top 4, or bottom 2 play top 2, many might have some input into how this process plays out and how many, if any teams, need to be promoted.