On Monday 6 March, 2017, a delegation of Victorian National Premier League clubs and other key stakeholders in Victorian football met to discuss the potential effects upon the NPL, stemming from ongoing developments in the governance of football in Australia.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of Football Federation Australia’s announcement that it is working on a new Constitution and governance model following FIFA’s recent visit to Australia, agitation by A-League franchisees which are pursuing an increased say, and CEO David Gallop and Chairman Steven Lowy flying to Zurich in February for further talks with FIFA.
Nationwide, NPL clubs have been expressing their increasing unease they do not have an adequate voice at the FFA table, to have their concerns properly considered. The NPL concept was established by FFA to serve a crucial role in the development of elite players and the advancement of the game.
NPL clubs have been tasked across the country with the delivery of these aims. It is the NPL clubs which face the daily challenges of doing so, including coping with insufficient funding and often inadequate facilities, while receiving limited support from their governing bodies. It falls to the NPL clubs to control spiraling costs while addressing the legitimate concerns of players and parents.
Just as the A-League franchisees formed the Australian Professional Football Clubs Association to represent their interest to FFA, the NPL clubs resolved to form their own association of clubs. All NPL clubs across Australia will be invited to join.
North Geelong Warriors FC confirms that its own delegates were present at this meeting, and will be joining the Association.
Along with the NPL clubs, North Geelong Warriors FC looks forward to working with FFA and the state federations, to ensure these legitimate concerns are heard and accommodated in the new governance structure and appropriate outcomes are achieved for the benefit of the game, both now and in the future.
