Football Federation Victoria head of NPL and NPLW Liam Bentley has confirmed promotion and relegation between NPL 2 and State League One clubs will be implemented in 2017.
Despite the initial three and two-year licences for the current NPL clubs set to expire following the conclusion of this season, no changes to the league structure will be made throughout 2016.
“The current participation licence signed by the 34 clubs that are in provides protection from relegation for three seasons or two seasons in the case of the teams that joined later on,” Bentley told FFV media.
“That basically means there’s no relegation from NPL in 2016 and that relegation will start to kick-in in 2017.
“Also by virtue of there being no relegation, there’s no promotion from State League One into NPL at the end of 2016 – again, that will kick off in the 2017 season.
The decision marks a change from the presumed review of club facilities backroom and junior structures following the expiry of the current licences, with an increased focus on senior results.
However, Bentley alluded to the process being more detailed than simply the top placed State One and lowest ranked NPL 2 swapping places, with a number of factors to be discussed between stakeholders.
“We’re in the midst of designing how exactly the relegation and promotion system will work, taking in account all the factors of NPL clubs,” he said.
“That will be done with consultation amongst state league clubs and NPL clubs, standing committees and the like to get the right promotion and relegation system in place for the long term in NPL and state league for Victorian football.”
Other developments for the upcoming season detailed by Bentley included the implementation of fourth officials at games, along with display boards to indicate substitutions and added time.
Furthermore, while Melbourne Victory’s NPL team can play in the league finals, should they win the premiership they won’t go onto play in the national finals series.