By ADEM SARICAOGLU
FOOTBALL Federation Victoria has officially confirmed the Victorian model of the National Premier League will not be introduced for the 2014 season.
The FFV made the announcement via a media release late last week.
It means the Victorian Premier League will continue in its normal format next year.
“It is with great regret and disappointment that the FFV board announces that the National Premier Leagues (NPL) will not be introduced in 2014,” the release said.
The FFV had planned in September to announce the successful applicants that would take part in the new league.
However, the Magistrates Court restrained the governing body from making an announcement and referred the matter to the Supreme Court.
The action was brought on by a group of ‘co-signatory’ clubs who strongly opposed the FFV’s model for the NPL, citing numerous issues that included restrictions on junior participation, registration costs, facility requirements and their strong dissatisfaction with the FFV’s consultation process.
Both parties recently attended mediation sessions in an attempt to resolve the matter, but an agreement could not be reached.
Local VPL giants Melbourne Knights and Green Gully, along with most VPL clubs, have publicly stated their opposition to the FFV model.
State League One outfits Werribee City and Sunshine George Cross were the only established clubs from Melbourne’s West to confirm their interests in joining the NPL.
However it now seems likely Werribee City, who won promotion after finishing second in SL1 this season, will take part in the VPL alongside the Knights and Cavaliers next season.
Despite the setback, the FFV is still keen to implement the NPL initiative into the Victorian footballing landscape over coming years.
FFV president Nick Monteleone said the idea behind the NPL was to “increase the quality of youth development practices, develop better coaches, require clubs to explain their fee structure and ensure that fees are reasonable and not excessive”.
Monteleone also said it was to “regulate the role of player agents and private academies, improve club governance and financial reporting, correct unsustainable player payments in State League competitions and promote local youth development within the club team structure”.
