League to stay 10?

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33966, 6 October 1975, Page 12

League to stay 10?

The Rothmans National Soccer League seems likely to remain as a 10-team competition in the foreseeable future. The next major change, if the clubs now on the outside want it, will be a second division. This was the outcome of the discussion held on the competition’s future by the

National League Committee meeting at Christchurch on i Saturday morning. The committee voted against an increase to 12 i teams on financial grounds but endorsed moves being made by the New Zealand Football Association to seek the views of regional league Clubs on the formation of a second division. Mr G. P. Bibly (N.Z.F.A. executive), who was elected deputy chairman to replace' Mr P. Killick, said that a' list of questions were to be. (sent to all regional league: i first division clubs. They; I would include questions on i financial matters and thej ■growth potential of the I I clubs. The meeting generally recognised that a second divi- ■ sion would be unlikely tol start before the 1977 season and might, for financial rea-’ sons, be separated into' North and South Island sec-i tions. National league clubs will; again seek, through their; local associations, to change the rules which prevent them having entries accepted into the regional leagues and to give the National League Committee direct representation on the N.Z.F.A. council. The meeting welcomed a new disciplinary system of demerit points, which has been drawn up by the ; N.Z.F.A. executive and is now being considered by the national body’s rules committee. The system has a schedule , of penalty points for all ' types of offences, ranging i from 12 points and a onei match suspension for violent Iconduct, serious foul play,

and foul or abusive language, to one point for a player using the shoulders of a team-mate to assist him in heading the ball. When a player has accumulated 20 points in a season he would become liable to be warned as to his future conduct or suspended for the maximum of three matches, at the discretion of the commission dealing with the matter. It is contemplated having three commissions — for the' national .league, for thej regional leagues, and for: local competitions. The committee was told there had been a drop of, 10,000 spectators attending national league matches last season from the 1974 season. Christchurch United had the highest attendance of all 10 clubs, with more, than; 20,000. New Brighton’s total gate fell from 26,730 in 1974 to 13,434 this season. In other decisions, the committee decided to continue the “fair play” award in the same form as this year, seek a meeting between club coaches and referees at Easter, consider the anomolies existing in the present N.Z.F.A. professional contract, seek a change in! i the national rule to allow leach club a representative 'on the committee, approved the distribution of prize money for the 1976 season ($7OOO for first, $3500 for second, $2500 for third. $l5OO for fourth, $750 for fifth, $250 for sixth), and agreed to look into further incentive awards aimed at producing more goals and ithe award of a “coach of thej 'month” prize. 1