The newly proposed National Premier League (NPL) system the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) has introduced hasn’t been met with the greatest reception.

In particular, the Victorian state Greek sponsored teams are upset with the lack of collaboration and foresight the FFA has given them in implementing the changes, while cash strapped clubs are scratching their heads as to how they’ll be able to fund the implementation. Issues about compensation and the lack of wiggle room have also angered club management.

President of Bentleigh Greens, Kosta Bios says the reward for cultivating an A-League star isn’t enough considering all the profit the player makes after their signing never goes back to the team.

“The cost of developing an A-league star, from a young six-year-old is a lot, and the $3000 the FFA is offering if they make it into the A-league isn’t enough,” he tells Neos Kosmos.

Northcote City club President, Peter Kotsiris agrees and sees a big divide between the A-league and the state teams that isn’t easily bridged.

“The perception is obvious, we are here to produce players for the A-League clubs,” he tells Neos Kosmos.

“Smaller clubs are always producing players for the bigger clubs, now however the smaller clubs are not reaping the benefits of that – no transfer fees effectively – and what I would call standover tactics, particularly on younger players when an A-League club wants them.”

In the new changes, the NPL will become a more professional program, with consistent player pathways in each state and territory, a Player Points System (PPS) to encourage youth development and common brand and logo.

In particular, the point system has come under fire, with some arguing it is alienating older players and favouring the young.

“It is ridiculous for the FFA or FFV to suggest that a player over the age of 25 is effectively over the hill or is penalised by a points system,” Mr Kotsiris says.

But, despite the negativity, some teams have been very happy with the NPL approach.

Club Director for South Melbourne FC, Tom Kalas, says the team jumped on the changes.

Despite the rollout happening in 2014 for Victorian teams, South Melbourne FC has already implemented the changes and
believes the roll out will benefit the clubs in the long run.

“This is a great way to professionalise and bring up a lot of the more developed and more able clubs with good infrastructure and a good volunteer base like we do, because the gap between the A-league clubs and the VPL clubs with what they pay their players and the income and the attendance is a huge gap,” he says.

Many clubs feel the changes have only come to satisfy the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA rules to have a relegation and promotion program. This year, Australia was demoted to just one spot from three in the Asian Champions League, a reaction to the small number of A-league teams available. That’s why the FFA has used the NPL to create a way for more teams to enter the A-league.

“It is compulsory worldwide for any professional league to have a promotion and relegation system. The FFA has dodged this bullet for eight seasons of the A-League,” Mr Kotsiris says.

With the new changes, teams that top the NPL will be front runners to enter the A-League and bring the 10 team league up to 14 or 16 teams, finally making it more internationally competitive.

“This NPL now creates in effect for us a B-league,” says Mr Kalas.

In an attempt to increase football’s margin in Australian sport, the FFA has also introduced a new FA Cup.

The Cup will be launched in 2015 and will be a chance for the smallest teams versus some of the best in Australia.

But, for all the changes being implemented, the FFA says nothing is so concrete that can’t leave space for wiggle room.

A spokesperson for the FFA told Neos Kosmos that they won’t force the changes on clubs that can’t implement them easily, and the changes are just for the purpose of being consistent Australia wide.