A decision to include Auckland FC’s reserves in next year’s Northern League has disrupted previously-agreed regulations covering promotion and relegation for clubs in the regional pyramid.
The knock-on effect of including the second-string side from Auckland’s A-League expansion club changes the 2024 promotion/relegation system for:
- Northern League
- Lotto NRFL Men’s Championship
- Lotto NRFL Men’s Northern Conference
- Lotto NRFL Men’s Southern Conference
- NRF League One
A number of clubs have complained about the lateness of the changes which were communicated to them by Northern Region Football in a letter dated March 19, 2024.
A joint statement, New Zealand Football and NRF said: “NRF and NZF are taking time to listen to clubs on changes to this year’s promotion and relegation for Northern League and Lotto NRFL competitions, and will share an update after thoroughly considering the feedback we’ve received.”
While they wait, clubs are coming to terms with the potential impact on their promotion ambitions, and risks of relegation.
The inclusion of Auckland FC Reserves in the Northern League matches that of the Wellington Phoenix whose second team plays in the Central League.
In both cases, neither Auckland FC nor the Phoenix can be relegated, and both are given preference with qualification to the Men’s National League (four teams from each of Northern/Central Leagues join two from the Southern League).
From 2024, the Wellington Phoenix will be able to enter the Chatham Cup and the Kate Sheppard Cup, providing any team that plays meets the requirement of all players having amateur status. This restricts participation to reserves/academy players.
It’s likely Auckland FC will have similar access to the domestic cups.
READ MORE: Wellington Phoenix now able to enter Chatham Cup and Kate Sheppard Cup >>>>
How the revised promotion/relegation system works
The following is a transcript of the letter sent to clubs by NRF federation competitions manager Mike Corbett:
Below is an update around the inclusion of Auckland FC into the NZF National League Competition framework and the impact on the promotion/relegation for the Lotto NRFL Competition pathway in the men’s competitions.
Background
Following the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) announcement to award an A-Leagues licence to Auckland FC, NZF have been working to explore options for the club to operate within New Zealand’s National League System, including integration of an Auckland FC side into the men’s National League from 2025.
What’s changed
This work undertaken by NZF means we’re required (to) amend our competition rules and regulations for the end of the 2024 season. This affects all levels of the LOTTO NRFL Competition system and NRF League One Competition as follows:
NZF Northem League
- This promotion/relegation is changed as follows for the 2024 season only.
- The two lowest-placed participants of the Northern League 2024 (being the 12th and 11th placed teams) will be automatically relegated at the end of the competition.
CHANGE — The third-lowest-placed participant (being the 10th-placed team) will play off against the second-highest-placed participant in the LOTTO NRFL Championship over a home and away two-leg play-off at the end of the season to determine who participates in the Northern League 2025.
In 2025, this promotion/relegation will return to the traditional two up / two down scenario, noting that Auckland FC have protected status in the Northern League and cannot be relegated.
If Auckland FC finish in either of the bottom two spots (being the 12th and 11th placed teams), the team finishing in 10th place would be relegated.
Changes to LOTTO NRFL Men’s and NRF League One competitions
As a result of NZF making the above changes, NRF needs to make these changes to our competitions:
LOTTO NRFL Mens Championship
• The winner of the LOTTO NRFL Mens Championship is automatically eligible to be promoted into the NZF Northern League 2025, subject to licensing.
CHANGE — The second-placed team in the LOTTO NRFL Mens Championship will enter into a home / away playoff with the team that finishes 10th in the NZF Northern League 2024. These play-off matches will take place in September 2024.
CHANGE —The winner of the play-off will be eligible to enter the NZF Northern League 2025, subject to licensing.
CHANGE — The bottom two placed teams will be relegated to the LOTTO NRFL Conference.
LOTTO NRFL Mens Conference
• The winner of the LOTTO NRFL Mens Conference play-off is automatically eligible to be promoted into the LOTTO NRFL Championship 2025, subject to licensing.
CHANGE — Two teams will be relegated from the LOTTO NRFL Conference competitions in order to maintain the eight-team league composition at the end of the 2024 season.
NRF League One
• The winner of the 2024 NRF League One Competition is automatically eligible to be promoted into the LOTTO NRFL Northern Conference 2025.
CHANGE — A maximum of two teams will be relegated from the NRF League One competition in order to maintain the 8-team league composition at the end of the 2024 season.
The number of teams relegated will be determined by the teams being relegated from the LOTTO NRFL Conference competitions. If only one is a NRF team, then only one will be relegated from the League One competition.
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