By ADEM SARICAOGLU
FOOTBALL Federation Victoria has announced the Women’s Premier League will be increased from 10 teams to 12 this season.
The FFV announced the expansion as part of a reorganisation of senior women’s and junior girl’s competitions that will closely resemble the new structure for men’s and boy’s competitions in 2013.
All metropolitan leagues have been scrapped for a reorganised state league and WPL, and will feature a single promotion and relegation system across all senior competitions in the state.
“The restructure will create more regional leagues at the State League Four and Five level,” interim FFV CEO Peter Gome said.
“This will mean less travelling for the players involved and create more local derbies, which we believe will, in turn, create greater interest in these games for spectators.”
The new junior structure will see the introduction of the metropolitan-wide A Grade competition and localised competitions at lower levels in an attempt to improve the junior girl’s system.
“Again this will cut down on travel time for the players involved in the lower level competitions but will create fuller leagues at all levels,” Gome said.
“FFV is confident this will result in more games due to less byes and will help create a more level competition.”
FFV president Nick Monteleone said the expansion of the WPL was vital for the sustained future of the women’s game.
“Our view is that we need as many players getting exposure at the highest level.” Monteleone said.
“This will mean that more women players will play more games at the elite level, which we believe will in turn lift the standard of players and clubs involved.”
