Northern League 2021

Palau

With Auckland to remain in level 4 for two more weeks minimum and then a period at level 3, I suspect that the winter league is done.

So I take it the current top four teams will be selected for the national league.
Auckland City
Auckland United
Eastern Suburbs
Birkenhead 

Maybe with the start for the National League mid October if Auckland is at level 2.

might be a tad controversial

Feverish

Palau

With Auckland to remain in level 4 for two more weeks minimum and then a period at level 3, I suspect that the winter league is done.

So I take it the current top four teams will be selected for the national league.
Auckland City
Auckland United
Eastern Suburbs
Birkenhead 

Maybe with the start for the National League mid October if Auckland is at level 2.

might be a tad controversial

It's interesting - the NZF regulations don't say anything about the leagues not being completed. 
NRFL regs say for them its up to the League's discretation to award final places
compare that to Capital where if over 50% of games completed, positions are decided by average points (ie points \ number of games) - not that it'll matter in the Central League this season as all important places have been decided 

In fact, NZF have already published contingency plans, of which the following item is of most interest:



https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/107395?newsfeedId=1275622

The update provided to clubs on Friday (a more detailed version of the article on their website) says that if regional leagues can't be completed "NZF would select qualifiers based on the National League contingencies circulated to clubs in March 2021".

Andrew, doubt that the contingency plan address the other looming issue around audits and outcomes attached to that? So much hanging in the air,will be fascinating seeing it play out.

andrewvoerman

The update provided to clubs on Friday (a more detailed version of the article on their website) says that if regional leagues can't be completed "NZF would select qualifiers based on the National League contingencies circulated to clubs in March 2021".

All right, let's talk terms. The very best case scenario is that Auckland could be down to L2 as of September 20. How much more of the Northern League season could possibly be fitted in between then and the National League start date?

If Auckland were to move to level 3 on September 14 as planned and to move to level 2 only a week later (rather than two weeks later), the first possible weekend of fixtures would be October 2 (as NZF wants there to be at least a week to prepare) and there would be 12 weekends between then and the weekend before Christmas. 

Three weekends are needed to complete the Northern League (plus one midweek). 10 weekends are needed to complete the men's National League Championship. So a total of 13 weekends.

That discrepancy could be solved by making the National League Championship a round-robin with no final; by holding a double round of the National League Championship over Labour Weekend; or by adding an extra midweek round to either the Northern League or the National League Championship.

The document NZF distributed to clubs only outlines two scenarios – one where regional leagues begin September 25 (which won't be happening in the case of the Northern League) and the National League Championship begins October 16 and one where regional leagues are scrapped and the National League Championship begins October 16.

Obviously things are very fluid and Auckland spending two weeks at level 3 (IMO the most likely scenario, unless we get to zero cases per day fast) will mean no Northern League matches are possible until October 9. It would still be possible at that point to complete the Northern League and hold a modified National League Championship (say, two pools of five teams plus a final, over six weekends) but it seems the preference of NZ Football would be to find four Northern League qualifiers and get a full National League Championship in.

How they didn't have a clear plan in place incase this happened is beyond me. Shouldn't all regions have the same rules in place to work out who goes through??? Nzf make it up as you go...

watching_from_far

How they didn't have a clear plan in place incase this happened is beyond me. Shouldn't all regions have the same rules in place to work out who goes through??? Nzf make it up as you go...

Well, presumably the document referred to by NZF when it says ""NZF would select qualifiers based on the National League contingencies circulated to clubs in March 2021" is exactly that...

The way I see it is quite clear, best case scenario Auckland enters level 2 around 1 October.

You require minimum one week to prepare to continue winter league, so trying to complete 3 or 4 games per team is clearly not feasible if the national league is to start mid October. 

Hence if the national league start date is not moved then why the delay in announcing the end to the competition.

• Confirm cancellation of the remainder of Auckland’s season, and:
• Declare competition winners, promotion and relegation placings based on results of competitions up to and including the weekend of August 14-15.

Doloras

NRFL wrote:

Should the September 13 announcement confirm an Alert Level status which prevents a return to play, NRF will:

• Confirm cancellation of the remainder of Auckland’s season, and:
• Declare competition winners, promotion and relegation placings based on results of competitions up to and including the weekend of August 14-15.

So that's pretty definitive.

How could we finish our season, if we can get back on the park?
It’s all about being safe, and playing as much as we can in any weekends we’re given.
We're working with clubs to understand their perspective and how we can help - full update: https://t.co/7J3dq7A14P pic.twitter.com/7kgRSnxaR5

— Northern Region Football (@NRF_Football) September 1, 2021

don't forget the NL is a NZF run competition so this statement might not apply to that league and only the NRFL and then all community comps.  just a thought.

How many games were left in the season? You might feel aggrieved if you were Western Springs or possibly Bay Olympic, but otherwise the four teams being promoted are arguably 'clear.'

Following the extension of Alert Level 4 in Auckland, New Zealand Football has unfortunately had to make the difficult decision to terminate the remainder of the Northern League season.

Fixtures in the #ChathamCup and #KateSheppardCup will also be moved. #NZNationalLeague

— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) September 14, 2021

As a WSAFC fan I'm spewing, but I suppose it can't be helped. I hope AU and Birko do well.