Football: Expanded ASB Premiership confirmed

Auckland's Sam Burfoot dribbles past Waitakere defender Tim Myers. Photo / Jason Dorday.

A Wellington Phoenix reserve side has been included in an expanded nine team national league for the upcoming 2014-2015 ASB Premiership season.

The Wanderers SC side, a wider group of New Zealand players continuing preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand in 2015, are also included for the second year of their two-season placement.

Three bids for inclusion in the competition were unsuccessful for the coming season with ASB Youth League franchises Auckland United, Nelson Marlborough Falcons and YoungHeart Manawatu left out of the mix.

New Zealand Football CEO Andy Martin is excited at the new composition of the league which features a key change in requiring 50 percent of match-day squads come from players eligible to play for the All Whites.

"We're delighted to have reached the position we have on the format of the 2014-15 ASB Premiership season," Martin said.

"The addition of the Wellington Phoenix team strengthens both the A-League franchise and the overall quality of our national competition which is very important.

"You need only take a look at some of the top nations at the World Cup and all of them, to some extent, can point to a strong domestic competition playing a key role in the success of their national sides and New Zealand is no different."

"The end game is to provide a product which serves as a domestic focal point for the game and inspires all of our respective stakeholders."

Martin acknowledged the disappointment of the three unsuccessful league bids but highlighted the way forward with the intent to develop what is a key point in the New Zealand Football pathway.

"While we weren't in a position to include Auckland United, Nelson Marlborough Falcons and YoungHeart Manawatu for this season, they have been given detailed feedback around their bids.

"In the coming months we will be working with each of them to help them bridge the gap between their current position and that of being a viable long-term member of a strong national competition.

"Hopefully they will then be in a much stronger position to re-apply next time around."

The nine-team, two-round ASB Premiership competition kicks off on October 25 with the top four teams then contesting the home and away playoffs before the Grand Final. The pre-season ASB Charity Cup fixture between Auckland City and Team Wellington is on Saturday 19 October.

Meanwhile, the ASB Youth League will also change format for the 2014-15 season with the competition for U-20 players adopting a full national one-round league set-up after a Northern-Southern Conference split with a Grand Final in recent seasons.

The 12 franchises involved in the 2013-14 season will again contest the competition.

ASB Premiership 2014-15 - Competing franchises
Auckland City FC
Canterbury United
Hawke's Bay United
Southern United
Team Wellington
WaiBOP United
Waitakere United
Wanderers SC
Wellington Phoenix

ASB Youth League 2014 - Competing franchises
Auckland City FC
Auckland United FC
Canterbury United
Hawke's Bay United
Heartland Wairarapa
Manawatu United (formerly YoungHeart Manawatu)
Nelson Marlborough Falcons
Southern United
Team Wellington
WaiBOP United
Waitakere United
Wanderers SC