I would love to see wholesale change with domestic footy in NZ. I was actually having a good think about it recently and came up with a few ideas. I'm sure many will disagree but it'd make domestic footy exciting again...
League Structure:
* Get rid of the current franchise-based national league and return to a club-based
national league. The franchises are merely artificial regional sides and they
impact negatively on club sides. For instance, how can it be fair for a club to
start their season with a squad and then supplement that squad with players
from the NZFC season? Or clubs that “call on” NZFC players for the Chatham Cup?
It’s not a fair system and does NZ football no good at all.
* Get a proper pyramid system in place where clubs can have something to strive
towards. That is to say, have the national league at the top of the pyramid and
then the Northern, Central and Southern (bring it back) leagues running at the
same time underneath it. The winners of the three regional Premier leagues
could then play-off against each other, with the winner going into the National
League at the bottom National League side’s expense.
* For the aforementioned play-off series, the home side would be determined by who
had the best record in their league campaign. This could start with number of
points and then, if required, go down to goal difference.
* Prize money could be awarded by National League and Regional League placings but
would be heavily dependent on league sponsorship. Would the likes of Air New
Zealand, Westpac, Westfield, ANZ etc not be willing to sponsor the league if
there was perhaps one live match a week shown on weekends? That programme could
also be supplemented by the goals from the other National League matches that
weekend? Surely SKY or TVNZ would fancy picking this up?
* The winner of the National League would go into the Oceania Champions League.
* Make a strict criteria for National League entry, but not prohibitive. For instance
all participating clubs must have their own club rooms, dressing rooms, proper
fencing around the pitch and seating for, say, 400 people. Already clubs like
Napier City Rovers, Central United, Wellington United, Christchurch United etc
would be in a position to compete.
* Clubs of all divisions could help to finance their operations by, not only league and
sponsorship money, but also charging a minimal amount for entry to games (throw
in a free team sheet or programme to sweeten the deal), as well as the proceeds
from clubhouses.
Chatham Cup:
* This needs to be returned to its former glory, with an incentive for clubs to win
it. Prize money for each round would be awarded to the winning clubs.
* Make the final the crowning glory of the season. Hold the final at a proper stadium,
dependent on which clubs make the final, and televise the game live on NZBC or
Sky. For instance, two Auckland clubs could play at Mount Smart or North
Harbour. Two Wellington clubs could play at Westpac Stadium. Two Christchurch
at QEII Stadium. Two Dunedin at Forsyth Barr Stadium and so on. If you have an
Auckland and a Christchurch side, they could play halfway at Westpac in
Wellington. Whichever sides make it, there will be a geographical compromise
for a top stadium. Also make this game the final game of the whole NZ season.
Give players and fans that “fairytale, magic of the cup” day they deserve. And
it’d be great to see a Northern League Division Two side take on a National
League side from Christchurch, for example. Or a lower club side from the
Southern League travel to a Wellington side in the National League.
Youth / U21 League:
* A competitive but not financially crippling youth league is a must. The kids in
NZ need a place to hone their talents and stepping stone to the highest level
possible. I would propose an Under-21 league.
* All teams at National League level and those with the funds in other divisions,
could run a team on a regional basis which would be for players under the age
of 21, but also allowing three players over the age of 21 on the pitch at any
one time. This would allow squad players from the first team’s to gain match
practise and also bring the younger players through at the same time.
* To keep costs down, run these Under-21 divisions on a regional basis, ie:
Northern, Central and Southern. Or even by local federation if needs be. The
winners of each of a Northern, Central and Southern Region could then play-off
to decide the winner of the Under-21 title.
OK, so people will pick a lot of holes in these suggestions, notably funding, but I
think it would definitely bring back the competitive edge to domestic football
in NZ. Give the fans and sponsors a good product and they will be interested if
approached in the right way…