The deadline for clubs to submit their Expressions of Interest (EOI) for National Premier Leagues Victoria expired last week, with more than 27 clubs entering their forms.

Hume City FC hasn’t submitted a form, instead panning the new format saying they had “no confidence” in it. Also not on the list were Green Gully SC, Melbourne Knights FC and the Bentleigh Greens.

Clubs and other entities were welcomed to submit a non-binding EOI. However, for those entities who have not submitted an EOI before the deadline, there will be no opportunity to change their mind.

With more than half of the current VPL clubs having submitted an EOI before the deadline, the new National Victorian League will give lower level clubs a chance to boost their ranking.

Before the deadline expired on Friday, Football Federation Victoria CEO Peter Gome said the organisation is excited with the response rate of the new league and is thrilled to be working with so many clubs in laying the foundations for an exciting future of Victorian football.

Gome expressed his disappointment with recent media reports containing misinformation and suggesting some clubs don’t fully understand parts of the NPLV framework from the FFV’s failure to properly consult the football community.

“From July to December 2012, FFV conducted 15 forums state-wide, including many in metropolitan Melbourne, where interested clubs and groups attended,” he said.

Gome also rejected reports that NPLV criteria will still be subject to change.

“There will be no eleventh hour changes to the model. It would not be fair to all interested clubs for us to now make changes to the model. The model is staying as it is,” Mr Gome confirmed.

Claims that NPLV clubs have to forego their sub-junior programs and as such cause a lack of quality coaching to children aged five to twelve are incorrect, Gome said.

Although some clubs do not like components of the NPLV model, Gome pointed out it is a Football Federation Australia initiative and is consistent with the NPL implementation in all other states and territories.

The National Premier League has already been introduced by New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, ACT and South Australia in 2013, with other states to follow in 2014.

For entities that submitted their EOIs, the second phase of the process is preparing and lodging the NPLV application. The successful NPLV licences will be announced in September.