Perhaps Auckland City have got an early heads up, that Auckland FC Reserves will be one of the 2 NZ teams.
They surely won't have more than one team in Auckland. But given NZ's biggest city, is the main air transport hub for the Pacific region, strong chance OFC will put one team in the 09. OFC are after all also headquartered in the City of Cars.
APL were wowed by Foley's multi club model, and billionaire backing when handing out the licence for the A League's newest team. It wouldn't surprise if the same applies with the OFC and this new pro league.
Spending some cash on upgrading OFC football facilities in Auckland, or around the Pacific as a whole would be chump change to Foley.
Maybe OFC would dictate they have to have 3-5 non Kiwi OFC players in the Reserves squad or something. So they can market themselves as helping young talented Island eligible players based in NZ. Fijian Semi Nabenu is already in this year's AFC Reserves squad.
Similar with Christchurch United getting a team in this new comp. Slava Meyn is a wealthy guy, and there are apparently some excellent facilities out at Yaldhurst that would be handy when hosting 8 teams, and a 1-2 week long hub.
OFC will want a financially stable comp as early as possible, so it wouldn't surprise if the chosen clubs are those with the money and existing top class facilities.
They surely won't have more than one team in Auckland. But given NZ's biggest city, is the main air transport hub for the Pacific region, strong chance OFC will put one team in the 09. OFC are after all also headquartered in the City of Cars.
APL were wowed by Foley's multi club model, and billionaire backing when handing out the licence for the A League's newest team. It wouldn't surprise if the same applies with the OFC and this new pro league.
Spending some cash on upgrading OFC football facilities in Auckland, or around the Pacific as a whole would be chump change to Foley.
Maybe OFC would dictate they have to have 3-5 non Kiwi OFC players in the Reserves squad or something. So they can market themselves as helping young talented Island eligible players based in NZ. Fijian Semi Nabenu is already in this year's AFC Reserves squad.
Similar with Christchurch United getting a team in this new comp. Slava Meyn is a wealthy guy, and there are apparently some excellent facilities out at Yaldhurst that would be handy when hosting 8 teams, and a 1-2 week long hub.
OFC will want a financially stable comp as early as possible, so it wouldn't surprise if the chosen clubs are those with the money and existing top class facilities.