Good succinct summary, thanks AW82. Agree grounds are an issue but ASB was always there as an option if the club wants to pay, give away perceived home ground advantage, clubhouse aftermatch etc. As Bays won the league, they'll hardly be complaining though, will they? But agree, standard will be shown up once Bays take on Nth Is feds. Chatham Cup has already highlighted Cavvy and Dndn Tech's superiority over Chch sides this year but when is the last time Chch teams had it over Dndn anyway? Not in the last few years.
I hear whisper that there has been recent talk of 9 team league next year? WTF?
Re a nine team league I cannot see this happening and ceretainly hope is does not for the following reasons:
1) would not improve the standard, what we saw this season I think there would be a better case to go to a six team league. Looking back over the history of the Mainland PL, it started out with 12 teams - the first season, then reduce to 10 for the next four and when finally the present eight. Over the years four the the relegated sides did not win a single game with two of those not picking up a single point
2) bloody silly for teams to have a bye in the premier league
3) I am sure that when a review was last carried out Mainland agreed that any future changes could only take place two season out
4) if it was nine team over three rounds would make the season three weeks longer - with ASB Park ChCh teams could play midweek but what about Suburbs
Now that the relegation has been decided and it is ChCh United facing the drop I think any talk of a nine team league will stop, if it was FC going down then I think it would have been a different story.
Hopefully FC Nelson will look at promotion in the next season and maybe a 6 Christchurch - 2 Nelson club split would be a better mix.