Following a complete review of the competition by the ASB Premiership Review Committee, the recommendation was made for the 2013/14 League to retain an eight team competition in the Premiership, but expand the ASB Youth League from ten to 12 teams.
New Zealand Football Chief Executive Grant McKavanagh is enthused by the changes to the ASB Premiership and the expansion of the ASB Youth League.
“We need to ensure any expansion is done in a manner that adds to the success and stability which the ASB Premiership has enjoyed to date. The decision to expand the youth league is about building a broad base and exposing more young players to relevant competition.
Six foundation franchises, Waitakere United, Auckland City, Hawke’s Bay United, Team Wellington, Canterbury United and Otago United have all had their licenses renewed.
The Waikato region retains representation in the league with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Football Federation agreeing to oversee the running of WaiBOP United – the region’s ASB Premiership side, previously known as Waikato FC.
Palmerston North franchise YoungHeart Manawatu have been offered a place in the ASB Youth League, but have been removed from the ASB Premiership after finishing in last place for the three previous seasons.
The ASB Youth League will grow by two sides next season with the inclusion of Heartland Wairarapa from Masterton and a team from South Auckland added to the U-20 competition due to kick off in January 2014.
Nelson returned to national league football – via the southern conference of the ASB Youth League – for the first time in 12 years and although the Falcons enjoyed relative success, the feedback given to NZF was that there is a large amount of effort required.
“The Nelson Falcons example shows us that entry into the ASB Youth League is a good gauge on how teams handle a national competition on and off the pitch,” said McKavanagh.
“It will set franchises up in a manner that creates less pressure. Rather than trying to get two full teams up and running, they can focus on one team and getting the off-field infrastructure right, if that all works well they may be given the opportunity to move up to the ASB Premiership in the future. There is definitely a desire to move to a 10 team league at some stage.”
Heartland Wairarapa have also been given the green light for the ASB Youth League and will look to build on the success of 2011 ASB Chatham Cup winners Wairarapa United and push for a spot in the ASB Premiership in seasons to come.
With nearly a third of the nation’s population to select from, the Super City gets another ASB Youth League franchise in South Auckland.
New Zealand Football also confirmed that a national U-20 squad will be introduced into the ASB Premiership for the 2013/14 season and will comprise of players born on or after 1 January, 1995.
“This is an important component in the preparation for the FIFA U-20 World Cup which will be held in New Zealand in 2015,” NZF High Performance Director Fred de Jong said.
“One of the objectives is to retain our top young players in New Zealand for longer and entry into the ASB Premiership gives us an opportunity to prepare in a cost effective manner when compared to touring the team internationally.”
This is a continuation of the concept trialed by the Northern-based U-17 team that competed in the ASB Youth League earlier this year. That side provided the majority of the Young All Whites that won the Oceania qualifiers last month and qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE later this year.
Exact draw details for the ASB Premiership and ASB Youth League will be confirmed at a later date.
ASB Premiership
Auckland City, Waitakere United, WaiBOP United, Hawke’s Bay United, Team Wellington, Canterbury United, Otago United, NZ U-20
ASB Youth League
Northern Conference – Waitakere United, Auckland City, South Auckland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay United, Northern-based U-17s
Southern Conference – YoungHeartManawatu, Heartland Wairarapa, Team Wellington, Nelson Falcons, Canterbury United, Otago United
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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