By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
GEELONG could field a side in a new national premier soccer league next year if a local licence bid is successful.
Greater Geelong Galaxy has launched a bid on behalf of a number of “traditional” clubs in the region for a place in Football Federation Australia’s National Premier League Victoria (NPLV).
The bid follows North Geelong Warriors joining about 50 other clubs around the state in boycotting the new league.
Galaxy chairman Joe Madunic said the bid could “take football in the Geelong region to another atmosphere”.
The competition would involve the best male and female senior, junior and sub junior players across all regional and metropolitan areas of the state, he said.
“The potential to play in a national competition down the track is also on the horizon.”
Mr Madunic said Galaxy had worked hard with its talented juniors in Victorian Champions League and Regional Challenge Cup.
“We look forward to working with all key stakeholders to put together a bid worthy of our great region and city.”
Mr Madunic said talented juniors could be lost to soccer without a pathway to higher levels of the game.
Failure to secure an NPLV place could set back the game’s local development three years, he warned.
Surfcoast Football Club has also expressed in an NPLV licence.
Warriors president Daniel Desa said members voted against joining the league at an extraordinary general meeting.
Financial and control issues were behind the decision, he said.
Operating an NPLV club would cost about $600,000 a year, Mr Desa estimated.
“We had a budget and we put in our figures in and it was just not feasible.”
