Posted April 07, 2021 22:27
· last edited April 07, 2021 22:29
Clearly NZF has paid scant regard to current SI playing strength in arriving at this decision, which is seemingly based on timetabling convenience re synchronising the three regional leagues. A two-round 8 team Southern Regional League would finish 4 weeks ahead of the other two leagues. This provides a window to then play for a South Island "Cup" - split into two groups of 4 , each play 3 round-robin matches and then the group winners play for the Cup. The SRL + SI Cup would therefore comprise 69 matches, which would be a reduction of ~25% in travel costs compared with a 10 team SR League; it would align with the schedule for the Championship phase and would avoid an unnecessary dilution of playing strength. lsmith1001
VimFuego
All Whites 82
Vim re next season NZ Football would like the Southern League / Conference (SL) to be ten teams to mirror the format of the Northern and Central Conferences so if this does happen the five teams that make the SI this season will be guaranteed a place in the SI for 2022.
Oh wow, ok. So in 2022 the top 5 from MPL 2021 get in, plus 3 from Otago (as it sounds like there is a playoff from the other thread), plus 1 from the CCL/bottom 3. That makes 9...
It's going to be 10, 3 from Football South, 7 from Mainland. Agree with everyone here that it's simply too big but hey, clearly NZF wanted their way.
Especially given that only 2 teams qualify for the National League (less than from the other regions), I think 8 teams is perfectly reasonable.
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Unknown editoredited April 07, 2021 22:29
Clearly NZF has paid scant regard to current SI playing strength in arriving at this decision, which is seemingly based on timetabling convenience re synchronising the three regional leagues. A two-round 8 team Southern Regional League would finish 4 weeks ahead of the other two leagues. This provides a window to then play for a South Island "Cup" - split into two groups of 4 , each play 3 round-robin matches and then the group winners play for the Cup. The SRL + SI Cup would therefore comprise 69 matches, which would be a reduction of ~25% in travel costs compared with a 10 team SR League; it would align with the schedule for the Championship phase and would avoid an unnecessary dilution of playing strength. lsmith1001
VimFuego
All Whites 82
Vim re next season NZ Football would like the Southern League / Conference (SL) to be ten teams to mirror the format of the Northern and Central Conferences so if this does happen the five teams that make the SI this season will be guaranteed a place in the SI for 2022.
Oh wow, ok. So in 2022 the top 5 from MPL 2021 get in, plus 3 from Otago (as it sounds like there is a playoff from the other thread), plus 1 from the CCL/bottom 3. That makes 9...
It's going to be 10, 3 from Football South, 7 from Mainland. Agree with everyone here that it's simply too big but hey, clearly NZF wanted their way.
Especially given that only 2 teams qualify for the National League (less than from the other regions), I think 8 teams is perfectly reasonable.