NZFC Expansion

NZFC Expansion

It has to be an Auckland franchise.  I think the idea of a regional model is to some extent flawed and has lead to the competition being ultimately unbalanced and uncompetitive.  Otago are using half a squad of playees from Canterbury which indictaes that there isn't enough talent there.  Waikato are financially weak and lose a lot of playrs to Auckland (and I doubt they are fulfilling the original licence requirements), although should always have a side.

It will be East Auckland and Brian Turner will be coach. Mt Wellington have sorted out some financial troubles due to regular Fiji tournaments being played at Bill McKinlay over the past few years. So somehow a combination of Mt Wellington, Eastern Suburbs and Onehunga Sports (although Onehunga not really East Auckland). Oneunga have the best facilities out of those teams. 

That makes sense, Uackland could probably field an East Auckland side as well as one on the North Shore, personally in a 10 team league I think a 4-6 Auckland/the rest split is about right.  As well I think it would make for a more entertaining competition even though the talent may be spread slightly thinner overall the Auckland teams would still be strong which would be a good thing. james dean2010-01-21 03:34:23

Thanks for the updates and opinions guys. It's interesting to read what people are thinking or have heard. Being so far away, it's difficult to get the inside track.

If one or more extra Auckland teams were to be added, would there be a big enough supporter base to cover them as well as the two existing Auckland sides? Now I know Auckland has the population base, but given the reasonably poor attendances watching City and Waitakere week-in and week-out, would more sides in Auckland not spread an already thin clientele over too many clubs?

There's porr attandances everywhere, that's not really a factor, you're talking several hundred in a city of 1.4m.

I  can tell you now that it will be a North Shore team and Alan Jones will be coach.

Expansion is a terrible idea. Yes I am aware that an extra auckland team mite reduce the ACFC/WUFC dominace, but the thing with the current league is that its not to big which means there is reasonably high std of football. Certainly much higher than the last few years of club nat league. Yes Auckland could sustain another team but I'm not sure its quite what we want. In terms of expansion I'd rather a div 2 with a promotion/relegation 2 legged match. otagofan2010-01-21 12:09:26

southland......

Assuming the insular attitudes of some current sides continues and the Phoenix reserves are again blocked, I would expect an Auckland side, and probably a side from the Bay of Plenty

hello there. I am interested in the proposition, which is quite often reasserted here, that there is a case for a  Bay of Plenty NZFC  team.

I laughed when I read Taranaki and Nelson, giggled at Southland and just roared at BOP.

My BoP suggestion was more on looking at the next population base that seemed franchiseless. I have only just moved into the Wai/BoP fed and played a few games, so wasn't aware of the lack of ability for BoP to run a franchise. Sounds a lot like the Taranaki then (with a bigger population obviously.

Need the NZFC to expand with two new teams.
Phoenix reserves has to one of them. Lets get some NZFC games on Sky.
Nelson/Tasman for the other.
Auckland get stuff all spectators at the two clubs they have, so why give them another entry.

Nelson have the best facilities and sponsors in the S.I.

Because unless Nelson have bags of cash to fly in players then the strongest team is without a doubt going to come from Auckland.

The chances are that the Phoenix Reserve will get the 9th spot as the NZFC club agreement will change to allow them in by a majority franchise vote and not need to be unanimous vote. That will technically give Wellington their second team with financial stability.

The likeihood is that an Auckland Team will come from South Auckland/Auckland Manukau that financially ensured the National Youth League when NZF was losing money and was about to cut it. They must be in the NZF good books.

The other two Auckland teams (East Auckland and North Shore) may have a look in as well. Technically, those teams, even with the Manauku and Nix reserves in the NZFC, can be competitive without reducing Auckland City and Waitakere United squads. The team that may actually suffer for a while will be Waitako United who will lose their Auckland player base.

Manukau, East Auckland and North Shore have their own fan base to draw their crowds. There are very few people who support Auckland City and Waitakere United that will switch to those three teams as well as vice versa. Thats the nature of the Auckland teams fan base. They tend keep to their own. Although four teams should do the trick in Auckland, the nature lines of club loyalty seems to have already drawn up for the franchise.

We could actually end up with 12 teams in the NZFC. That would likely be the current maximum team amount without losing football standard.

The other commentaries are saying that a pre-olympic squad could operate out of Auckland and would be playing in the NZFC. That would potentially stretch the home and away rounds from 22 with 12 teams playing every of the 22 weeks to 24 with 13 teams with byes prolonging the season to 26 weeks. And that is not including the 3 weeks of playoffs to the 22 or 26 weeks.

The question is are we able to sustain this for the next ten years for the current teams re-licence?

So in all honestly, we may have another review of the current format after three years to see whether there is a chance to boost 10 teams to 12 or 13 and so give the new teams a 7 year licence when they enter in with a provisional review of the new teams after 3 years.

Player wise Auckland could support another two teams.

Sorry to disagree Bruce but Ak is a whole lot of small towns in one area, 2 more franchises here would be brilliant as it is the southern east and north have B.A . enthusiam for the present franchises, but give them a truly local team to support and things would change ,  and rapidly too ... as for the phoenix reserves shouldnt they be playing in their proper place ; the aussie league ?

Yawn

Ahh news still waiting for your cash to arrive for the lottery ,,pnix rules ; even if you win you wont get the prize ! same rules your teams under eh !

uncloz, you probably need to define "local" within the Auckland context.

Its more your definition of "local",  from my house to Kiwitea street I pass about 3 good footy clubs  that have dedicated hard working commitees , good footy people that youd never  [ or very rarely ] see at an ACFC game Auckland has no real uniting feature , for FS our most iconic feature you cant even walk on ! There are heaps of Aucklanders  who consider themselves , well Westies or from Pak , manukau , Takapuna etc...

Slightly off topic I know, but is this whole Auckland boundaries conundrum why the Knights did so badly at pulling in a crowd?

Would Northland or Southland be viable options for an NZFC franchise?

as much as any aussie reserve team would be ..yeah I think so...

I think the real problem being in the way jumping up to 12 teams, is that the community funding from the lottery grants/pokies etc is stretched to include 3 teams. It is more likely that with the nix reserve and another Auckland team would be enough to handle for the next three seasons before deciding to include another two teams.

Also an increase in the expenses on the South Island teams to include travel to Auckland almost every second weekend may be too much. So naturally, the overall expense to the NZFC teams could increased by 15% when we include two teams to 10 and then by another 30% later on when including another two Auckland teams. That's roughly increasing the overall expenses plus incidentals two-fold. Is the franchises able to increasing their funding two-fold to meet expenses??

There may be cost re-distribution being done by the NZF to support the format and the competition structure. I personally wouldn't like to relied on the CWC money to support the competition.AllWhitebelievr2010-01-24 01:22:27

the other bit of mystery is ...how many rounds ?

 

Many of you seem to suggest a third Auckland team join the expanded League. And then the real culprits come out swinging, that ACFC has only enjoyed success, and wrongly so? for using Trusts money. Trusts money is available to all affiliated football clubs, especially those in the semi-pro NZFC. Why shouldn't they be 'paid'. The bunch who travel regularly from outside their clubs regions to training and matches, at Waikato and Otago need some recompense .  Normal people with jobs who must train 3 or 4 nights a week, and if fortunate compete in the O-League also. Of course Auckland can support another team. North Shore would have those who would attend, but never journey across the harbour bridge regularly not just because of the physical distance, but a lack of affinity with home-based players. East Auckland club stalwarts' may never want to darken Kiwitea's doorsteps, honourable no, stubborn yes. But now they can get behind their own. If Trust money is available it would be foolish to refuse. And securing it does not in any way ensure success. It may certainly help. But ACFC were once Central United a true Wimbledon/Wigan Athletic rise over several decades to the pinnacle. (Welington are Portsmouth)   And Waitakere came from humble beginnings also, sheer hard work the pair originally. Certainly didn't hear any bleating from either side, when I regulalry read Soccer Express.  My only concern while spreading out the player talent, is though good for competition and player experience, and allows the rest of the country perhaps a more fairly defined opposition. It would likely mean a closer Title race, and so usually a weaker winner. (Initially anyway) So the entrant into the O-League could be seriously compromised. Tragic if they got further and were unprepared for World Club Cup. So extreme analysis: Evened out, expanded NZFC League sees teams struggle for progress in O-League. No more WCC qualification. Petty clubs especially will miss out on share of prize money, NZFC would also miss their cut. Good for the game if that (likely) scenario occurs? I think not.

XanthoFobe2010-01-23 16:20:33

hmm smells like Nola , with a punctuation bot and a ban on long words ...I could be very wrong...

That was my theory.

which I hardly ever am...


I should learn to finish my sentences,one day I