FIVE Football Mid North Coast clubs will contest the Coastal Premier League (CPL) starting next year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This has been decided by the board of Football Mid North Coast.
The clubs are Kempsey Saints, Macleay Valley Rangers, Port Saints, Port United and Wallis Lake. They'll join five clubs from North Coast Football to make up the two grade Coastal Premier League competition to stretch from Forster-Tuncurry to Coffs Harbour.
Football North Coast will meet on September 18 to determine the five clubs from that zone. Seven applications have been received.
"In the end we only had five nominations, so in that regard our selection process was made easier,'' Football Mid North Coast chairman Mike Parsons.
However, Mr Parsons assured the applications were reviewed thoroughly to ensure the necessary criteria was met.
"We now have the ideal situation, a 10 club, two grade competition,'' Mr Parsons said.
He confirmed all clubs will receive a three year licence to stay in the competition.
"We think this is going to lead to a higher standard of football in both zones - and that's not denigrating our local premier league,'' Mr Parsons said.
He said previously that formation of the CPL would be up to the clubs. However, he told the Times last month that he was neither 'confident or not confident' of the competition going ahead in what would be the biggest shakeup of football in this area since the formation of the Oxley-Manning Premier League (now Football Mid North Coast Premier League) in 2000.
"I didn't want to pre-empt anything,'' Mr Parsons said.
RELATED:
Mr Parsons admitted he is pleased the process has worked out favourably. He said the general managers from both zones would now work together to determine the structure of the new competition and also look for a major sponsor.
Mr Parsons added Football Mid North Coast will now establish a 10 club, one grade premier league style for the four current FMNC premier league clubs which won't be involved in the CPL - Taree Wildcats, Camden Haven, Wauchope and Tuncurry-Forster.
"This won't be a secondary competition, it will be a pathway to the CPL,'' Mr Parsons assured.
Expressions of interest will be called from clubs currently involved in FMNC's southern and northern leagues. Southern League premiers Wingham have already expressed interest in the competition as have Taree Wildcats.
(More in Friday's Times).
