Last Friday, the FSC Board declared the Illawarra Premier and District Leagues competitions for 2016.  

The following statement is to provide clarity and background as to the competition structure for 2016.

Prior to 2013, the Illawarra District League (IDL) was split into two conferences across 14 clubs to manage the length of the season given the number of clubs. The two conference winners then ‘played off’ for the right to apply for entry into the Illawarra Premier League (IPL).

This competition structure had disadvantages as strong feedback from clubs and the Men's Football Council was that the competition was uneven and all clubs wanted the opportunity to play each club twice to ensure a fairer result was achieved in determining the District League champion.

Therefore, it was agreed to transition this competition to a 14 club competition. This in itself had other implications with many challenges to clubs, volunteers and players given the duration of the season and match scheduling. The length of the season and other competitions (e.g. Bert Bampton, Fraternity Club Cup, etc..) contributed to heavy demands on all, which resulted on a big strain being imposed on players, club volunteers, match officials and resources, especially during periods of wet weather where rescheduling matches was a real issue.

The scheduling also had to include double headers which had a great impact to all involved in order to complete the season. In addition, given competition start dates were not aligned to the IPL (with a 12 club structure) district league clubs struggled early in the season in registering players that were still trialling with Premier League clubs.

Therefore, in 2013, the FSC Men's Football Council, engaged a working sub-group inclusive of Premier and District League club members to review the structure and make recommendations.

The recommendations from the sub-group, amongst other things was that the IDL be reduced to a 12 club competition which was communicated and reviewed by all clubs. The process allowed all clubs to provide any feedback during this entire process.

In early 2014, the Men's Football Council developed an evaluation criteria to assess all clubs at the end of the season to form the basis of determining which clubs would be relegated from the competition. In addition, all clubs were advised that potential mergers was a viable option to be considered by all members clubs as per the Men’s Competition rules.

The evaluation criteria was weighted under factors such as; club competition cumulative weighted points, club assessments (which included affiliations to junior clubs), disciplinary records, financial records and match day audits.

The Men's Football Council deferred the decision to relegate any clubs at the end of 2014 which included Coniston at that time. This decision was made to allow clubs to have an additional year to provide more time for clubs to manage the evaluation criteria outcomes.

Prior to the 2015 season, the criteria was further sent to clubs. Again, the clubs were provided an opportunity to feedback and comment on the 2015 criteria and the decision to move to a 12 club structure was reinforced.

League competition forums were held in June 2015, where the IDL clubs were again further advised that the criteria would be enacted to achieve the 12 club competition. In addition, during the 2015 season, the clubs were invited and had the opportunity to meet with the FSC Men’s Football Council to discuss implications of possible relegation.

For 2016, the Men's Football Council has also introduced a two tier team Division 1 competition within the ICL. This competition will form the basis of a platform into the District League which in the past has not been available and positions have been limited.

As Coniston FC fell in relegation position as per the evaluation criteria, following the completion of this competition season, they have been offered a position in the ICL two tier Division 1 competition.

Coniston FC will also have the opportunity to enter teams into the FSC Under 18 competition consisting of IPL, IDL and junior clubs.

Therefore, all clubs were aware of the process surrounding the strategy to reduce the IDL to a 12 club competition. With this in place, the introduction of the new ICL two team competition will provide a platform for promotion and relegation across the three FSC Competitions (IPL, IDL and ICL) which has been communicated and distributed to Clubs on many occasions at the clubs meetings & forums, throughout the year.

Coniston FC has every opportunity to be promoted back to the IDL in future seasons. Promotion and relegation is an integral part of many football competitions across the world and FSC has ensured that this has been achieved with widely known, fully consulted and agreed and publicly communicated parameters and plans over a 2-year period.

Therefore, in the determination of the leagues, the FSC Men's Football Council and the FSC board has ensured transparency and consultation in relation to this new competition structure.

 

Kind Regards,

Eddy De Gabriele (on behalf of the FSC Board)

Chairman – Football South Coast