Any word from anybody about any teams that weren't in the leagues that might be interested? I'm trying to figure out what they might look like next year but the only change out of both leagues I can see happening is Gisborne Boys High dropping out due to the fact they ended up defaulting the second half of the season.
Also finding it hard to think of any teams in Hawkes Bay or Gisborne that would even be interested in being promoted to the Eastern Premiership. The only other clubs in Hawkes Bay not involved are Eskview (who haven't been in the prem leagues for years), Hastings Hibernian (who also haven't competed above social levels in years), and Napier South who I'm not sure have ever played really competitively. Gisborne doesn't look super strong as well, the league below Prems was won by a social team named after a local pub.
Also finding it hard to think of any teams in Hawkes Bay or Gisborne that would even be interested in being promoted to the Eastern Premiership. The only other clubs in Hawkes Bay not involved are Eskview (who haven't been in the prem leagues for years), Hastings Hibernian (who also haven't competed above social levels in years), and Napier South who I'm not sure have ever played really competitively. Gisborne doesn't look super strong as well, the league below Prems was won by a social team named after a local pub.
Not sure about the West
Eskview as you mentioned are probably the closest club to having a prems side that aren’t there. They won HB Division 2 and potentially will move up to the reserve league. But would be miles away from Prems.
The only other change I could see, would be that CF allowing Napier City to have a second team in the league. Mainly because their reserve team has won the reserve league back to back and without losing a league game in two years.
The league will likely still have two Gisborne sides. So looking like a 9 team league unless NCR are allowed in.
Also wouldn't be surprised if we only get another season or two out of Gisborne United as well. In every single news article about them this season it seemed like they were constantly talking about how last season was a chance for a lot of their players to have one last hurrah. Seemed like it only happened because of support from CF when they were trying to get 3 Gisborne teams in the league.