GNEFA’S HANDOVER TO STATE BODY TO BE SORTED AT MEETING

29 November 2014

Shepparton News - Matthew Galea

Speaking at Wednesday night’s ‘‘Whole of Football’’ consultation, conducted by Football Federation Australia, FFV chief executive Peter Gome said FFV was looking forward to providing more assistance for the region’s competition.

‘‘We’re still waiting to hear on the outcome of Cobram (Roar)’s application to join (Albury Wodonga Football Association), but once we know we’ll get going,’’ Gome said.

Gome said the model followed the model the state body used to administer local competition in Geelong with one notable exception, with high hopes of running a combined challenge competition between the current GNEFA clubs and Bendigo Amateur Soccer League.

Clubs were sent an option paper outlining two possibilities for competition — either a pre-season cup or a champions league style competition that runs through the season.

‘‘If Cobram joins AWFA, then there could be as little as four senior teams here and that’s not sustainable,’’ Gome said.

The paper shows a preference to a competition which runs throughout the season as opposed to a preseason cup.

That format would use a group stage, with one game per month from April to July with the top two from each group progressing to semi-finals in August and a final the same month.

The final would be a curtain-raiser to the National Premier Leagues Victoria NPLV1 fixture between Goulburn Valley Suns and FC Bendigo City.