Football clubs facing axe
Three South Auckland football clubs face uncertain futures should the Northern Region Football League have its way.
Onehunga Mangere, Mangere United and Papakura City will have to find another league to play in because of a proposal to get rid of the northern league’s division two competition.
The recommendation is contained in a review of the NRFL by a working group that comprised chief executives, football development managers and competitions managers from the league’s three stake holders, Auckland Football, Northern Football and WaikatoBay of Plenty Football.
They produced a seven point plan that includes, among other things, the recommends the removal of the division two by 2019/2020. They say it will provide a regional competition to develop the most talented domestic footballers, referees and coaches and provide a pathway to national and international honours.’’
Onehunga Mangere has blasted the proposal as elitist. ‘‘We believe this proposal is based on a change for change sake attitude and is seen as a deliberate push to try and create a competition for an elite group of larger clubs,’’ president Steve Mateljan says.
A more detailed response from Mateljan and his Onehunga Mangere club can be read here.
Manukau City and Manurewa are safe for now.