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Posted August 09, 2025 08:40 · last edited August 09, 2025 08:43

It would be a decision for the APL. Nothing to do with what the NPL clubs want or care about.

The APL want more teams (product), and they want them to be stable financially. Easily the best new entrant in the league since WSW, in Auckland has come from NZ. And APL love those $20M licence fees.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/133459221/christchurch-united-president-slava-meyn-interested-in-aleague-football-franchise-bid

Pragnell said he will continue to talk with APL and Football Australia about the need for a South Island A-League club.

“Historically, the A-League is an Australasian league, not solely an Australian league that happens to have a New Zealand club in it. For a long time, the Phoenix have held on with somewhat of a threat hanging over their heads, that they were there by chance and lucky to be there.”

But now the A-Leagues had shown their commitment to New Zealand with the Auckland expansion, Pragnell said.

That made a South Island team the next logical step. “If you look at our geography, our population spread, the history of football in Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson and other parts of the South Island, it’s an absolute must, strategically.

“It’s about us now having the influence, the advocacy and getting the right ownership group to come to the table.”

Pragnell was aware of Meyn’s A-League interest in the past, and he believed, if the APL were to go with a South Island A-League opportunity, “I think we’d see some people come out of the woodwork”.

He said the level of investment required “wealthy individuals who see the opportunity, or groups of people who are willing to partner”.

Foley, who also owns the Las Vegas Golden Knights National Hockey League franchise, has shares in French Ligue Un football club Lorient FC and is striving to invest in Scottish Premier League club Hibernian, was a “great example’’ of how a new A-League venture might appeal to multi-club ownerships.

“People are seeing long-term growth in football and capital gains in that area. If you leverage it off existing business interests, even better,” Pragnell said.
NZF believed the country could support three A-League clubs, and it would strengthen the talent pathway and potentially lead to more All Whites and Football Ferns coming through the A-League.

Pragnell was also confident the South Island would get behind an A-League franchise.

“Christchurch has a deep football history, some of our oldest clubs come from there. We were rapt last year when we brought the [Football] Ferns down and hope to bring more international football back to Christchurch because of the support we got.

“The club networks are strong, there’s a strong federation, and Cantabs are well renowned for their support of their sports teams, and likewise across the whole of the South Island. And, as Christchurch has shown in the last few years, it’s a city on the up.”

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Unknown editor edited August 09, 2025 08:43
It would be a decision for the APL. Nothing to do with what the NPL clubs want or care about.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/133459221/christchurch-united-president-slava-meyn-interested-in-aleague-football-franchise-bid

Pragnell said he will continue to talk with APL and Football Australia about the need for a South Island A-League club.

“Historically, the A-League is an Australasian league, not solely an Australian league that happens to have a New Zealand club in it. For a long time, the Phoenix have held on with somewhat of a threat hanging over their heads, that they were there by chance and lucky to be there.”

But now the A-Leagues had shown their commitment to New Zealand with the Auckland expansion, Pragnell said.

That made a South Island team the next logical step. “If you look at our geography, our population spread, the history of football in Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson and other parts of the South Island, it’s an absolute must, strategically.

“It’s about us now having the influence, the advocacy and getting the right ownership group to come to the table.”

Pragnell was aware of Meyn’s A-League interest in the past, and he believed, if the APL were to go with a South Island A-League opportunity, “I think we’d see some people come out of the woodwork”.

He said the level of investment required “wealthy individuals who see the opportunity, or groups of people who are willing to partner”.

Foley, who also owns the Las Vegas Golden Knights National Hockey League franchise, has shares in French Ligue Un football club Lorient FC and is striving to invest in Scottish Premier League club Hibernian, was a “great example’’ of how a new A-League venture might appeal to multi-club ownerships.

“People are seeing long-term growth in football and capital gains in that area. If you leverage it off existing business interests, even better,” Pragnell said.
NZF believed the country could support three A-League clubs, and it would strengthen the talent pathway and potentially lead to more All Whites and Football Ferns coming through the A-League.

Pragnell was also confident the South Island would get behind an A-League franchise.

“Christchurch has a deep football history, some of our oldest clubs come from there. We were rapt last year when we brought the [Football] Ferns down and hope to bring more international football back to Christchurch because of the support we got.

“The club networks are strong, there’s a strong federation, and Cantabs are well renowned for their support of their sports teams, and likewise across the whole of the South Island. And, as Christchurch has shown in the last few years, it’s a city on the up.”