By ADEM SARICAOGLU
JUST two of the west’s top seven soccer clubs have put forward their ‘expression of interest’ to join the new National Premier Leagues Victoria (NPLV) from next year.
The region’s two current Victorian Premier League clubs, Melbourne Knights and Green Gully, have rejected the Football Federation Victoria initiative.
State League One clubs Sunshine George Cross and Werribee City confirmed last week they have submitted an EOI, but the Georgies have only entered the next phase on the basis they can pull out if they are not satisfied with the process.
Altona Magic, Western Suburbs and the St Albans Saints all opted against applying for the NPLV.
The Melbourne Knights were the most vocal of all the clubs in their dissatisfaction with the NPLV model, releasing a statement last Sunday evening indicating 86 per cent of their membership voted against submitting an EOI.
Knights football operations manager Simon Pincic told Star he believed the FFV had largely ignored much of the feedback clubs have put forward on the proposed NPLV model.
“We’ve just seen that everything they’ve taken on board they’ve just completely disregarded it and just gone their own way,” Pincic said.“They haven’t really cared at all about the points that we’ve raised.”
Green Gully football manager Raymond Mamo largely concurred with Pincic.
“The word ‘consultation’ means that you’re consulted and also getting some sort of feedback, but we weren’t consulted and I don’t believe that any of the other clubs were consulted, either,” Mamo said.
“The term ‘consultation’ needs to be reviewed because we weren’t consulted. Basically they’re forcing this upon clubs and we don’t believe it’s in their best interests.”
The most common concerns raised by clubs have been restrictions on junior participation, high registration costs, ‘Class A’ facility requirements and the resultant lack of local council support.
“We don’t believe that charging juniors up to $1700 to play football is feasible, and we also believe that what it will cost to run the (NPLV) will not be feasible for the club, either,” Mamo said.
The FFV has stipulated a ‘Class A facility’ must include at least four change rooms, a referees’ room and 500 undercover seats.
It is understood out of the west’s seven VPL and State League One clubs, only the Melbourne Knights would qualify under that criterion.
Last week the FFV said 27 EOIs had been put forward by clubs or combined entities, including “more than half” of all VPL clubs.
