Major Announcement ? NSW Premier League switches to Spring/Summer

In reaching the decision the Board took into account the two principle objectives articulated by the representations made from the NSW Premier League Standing Committee. Those objectives being;

1. To position and consolidate the NSW Premier League as the underpinning competition to the A-League and;
2. To ensure as best as possible the economic sustainability of the clubs participating in the NSW Premier League.

Both First Grade and Grade 20?s will compete during the spring/summer period whilst the junior arm of NSW Premier League clubs (U13?s, U14?s, U15?s, U16?s and U18?s) will operate during the traditional period.
There were several key principles that are attached to the alignment of the NSW Premier League move to the spring/summer period. They are;

1. The tradition of promotion and relegation between the NSW Premier League and NSW Super League is to be preserved.
2. There is to be no overlapping of the Competition match roster between the NSW Premier and NSW Super League.
3. NSW Premier League clubs will be required to participate in the McDonald?s Cup competition and its successor competition.
4. There will be a need to review player regulations to ensure to integrity of the NSW Super League competition is maintained.
5. The club relegated from the NSW Premier League will be required to participate in the NSW Super League season which immediately follows the conclusion of the NSW Premier League season.

In essence, the NSW Premier League will commence in September 2011 at a date after the NSW Super League has completed its Premiership Competition and Championship Series.
Likewise the NSW Premier League Premiership Rounds and Championship Series will need to be finalised before the NSW Super League Premiership season commences at a time in March 2012.
Additionally, the mutual obligation which the NSW Premier League clubs have to participate in the State knockout competition is maintained as an indication of the commitment the NSW Premier League clubs have to those clubs that participate in competitions which underpin the NSW Premier League.
There are several operational issues which still need to be finalised by Football NSW ? further information will be released as it comes to hand in the following weeks.
Competition details will be released by the end of October 2010.