1969 Soccer League To Be Same As 1968

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31809, 14 October 1968, Page 19

1969 Soccer League To Be Same As 1968

After a meeting lasting four hours and a quarter it Timaru on Saturday, club and association delegates agreed that the format of the 1969 southern league soccer competition should remain the same as in the season just completed and shelved discussion on the 1970 competition until a later date.

The system of “one up, one down” for 1969 was confirmed, requiring that New Brighton be promoted to the first division and Technical (Dunedin) be relegated to the second division.

Of the 18 clubs that took part in the 1968 competition, 16 have indicated they will re-enter next season. Only the two Canterbury clubs. Western and Shirley-Nomads, have not yet made a decision. Neither was represented at the meeting on Saturday, and the Southern League Committee chairman, Mr M. W. MacKenzie, reported that the two clubs will not announce their intentions until after they have held their annual meetings. Amalgamation Proposal Three major recommendations were agreed on a show of hands. A proposal by Christchurch City that southern league clubs be permitted to amalgamate was defeated, and the meeting recommended, by a vote of 16 to nine, that southern league clubs be permitted to amalgamate with clubs outside the league but not with each other. The discussion arose when the St Kilda delegate sought the committee’s reaction to his club amalgamating with a club which did not play in the southern league in the past season. He reported that many discussions between the two clubs had been held and had reached the stage where final agreement probably rested on the league committee’s decision on the amalgamation. After a long, repetitive, and often confusing discussion (the name of the club with which St Kilda is seeking amalagmation was not revealed), the City delegate. Mr D. Meyer, put-for-ward his proposal to test the reaction of the meeting. It was defeated, and the amendment barring amalgamations between present southern league clubs w r as passed. On the basis of the voting, the St Kilda delegate was assured the league committee would favourably consider his club’s amalgamation. Restriction On Transfers The meeting also recommended the adoption of the Otago F.A.’s rules concerning transfers. This states that there will be no transfer of players after the third playing Saturday of the season, except in the case of change of residence when an application would be considered by the O.F.A. management committee. It was pointed out that this was contrary to the rules of both Canterbury and Southland, which allowed the associations’ management committees to consider applications for transfers for reasons other than change of residence.

A recommendation from Canterbury seeking direct representation of clubs on the league committee was heavily defeated, 22-5. It was recommended that the committee comprise six members —two each from the Canterbury and Otago management committees and one each from the Southland and South Canterbury management committees. Future Expenses Covered The statement of accounts for the 1968 season showed an excess of income over expenditure of $520,54. It was unanimously agreed the committee should retain the sum to cover future expenses.

In answer to a questionnaire earlier sent out to clubs, there had been a wide variance of opinions as to how the money should be dispersed. Seven had suggested it be divided amongst the clubs, six had suggested a division of 60 per cent

to the clubs and 40 per cent to the committee, and five wanted the money wholly retained to help finance the league in 1969. Mr MacKenzie said that if the meeting agreed to disperse all the money to the clubs, the fairest means of distribution would be at one cent a mile travelled throughout the 1968 season. The Invercargill club, Queen’s Park, which had done the most travelling—47oo miles —would have received $47. Discrepancy Revealed When the southern league was formed, it was agreed that the four parent associations would contribute 40 per cent of their share of gates to the league. The sums paid were: Canterbury, $468.44: Otago, $287.66; Southland, $28.00; South Canterbury, nil. It was reported that South Canterbury did not have a charge ground in 1968 but hoped to have one in 1969. However, a discrepancy was revealed when the Southland delegate reported that his association had calculated on the net receipts, after the reduction of expenses, and that Canterbury and Otago had made their calculations on the gross receipts.

Mr MacKenzie said that the committee would have to discuss the matter with the Southland delegate to reach conformity on the matter. One Division Opposed The acting secretary, Mr M. Pahi, reporting on the results of a questionnaire sent out to clubs who played in the league last season, said that 15 had replied in the negative and two in the affirmative to a suggestion that one division might be more acceptable in future.

On administration, delegates were unanimous that regional leagues should seek affiliation to the N.Z.F.A. and that the three regional leagues should be uniform in every way. There was no discussion on a suggestion that a national league executive committee be formed from the three regional leagues.

After Mr MacKenzie had reported that the N.Z.F.A. will shortly be issuing a report on the future of regional leagues, it was decided to shelve discussion on the possible format

of the 1970 competition. However, club delegates stressed that any decisions to be made must be considered before the start of the 1969 competition so that clubs would know where they stand.