The best young player development will be through the 2 academies Weenix and Ole. Any young player who stays in ChCh training 3 nights a week at Cashmere Tech, and playing only on Saturdays is at a big disadvantage to his peers in an Academy who virtually already training semi pro. 9 weeks of Championship football with Cash Tech won’t change that.
NZF had to come out with cheaper NL financial model so I guess they have that, but don’t think it will help player development and the number of Kiwis getting signed for overseas pro clubs, at all.
Still a focus on winter football should better aline with the Nix, as the A League moves to the colder months as well. But by the time the Weenix/Lower Hutt move into the Championship NL phase of the season the A League will be over?? And it is going to be a big jump from CL football for those senior Nix players, seeking some game time with Weenix/LH through the A League season. A negative for the Nix with their youth/feeder team playing mostly at a lower level.
I’ll miss summer football over both comps.