Soccer: Dawkins welcomes changes to rules

A tweaking of the rules has been welcomed by Rex Dawkins, whose Waitakere United side were beaten for a place in the Oceania club championship by Auckland City.

After consultation with the eight New Zealand Football Championship franchises, New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter and competition manager Glyn Taylor, yesterday announced changes ahead of the October kick-off for the second championship.

Resisting any move to an extra (fourth) round, there will instead be a top-five playoff.

With New Zealand to host next year's Oceania club championship they will be entitled to two representatives. The winner of the round-robin league will be the first qualifier.

They will be joined in the OFC championship by the winner of the grand final. If one team wins both, the runner-up in the league will take the second spot.

"I'm happy with that," Dawkins said. "The top-five playoff is the way to go.

"I'm happy with anything that adds value to the competition. The test will come in future years when only one team will win through."

To extend the NZFC to a fourth round would cost each team around $10,000 on top of the estimated $180,000-$300,000 they spent first time round.

On the vexed question of player registration, Soccer NZ have agreed the franchises can now hold such registrations rather than the situation last season when the players were owned by winter league clubs and played their summer soccer "on loan".

There were on-going concerns over possible player burnout with too many players continuing to play back-to-back (winter-summer) seasons.

"By allowing the franchises to hold these registrations they will be better able to protect themselves in cases of contract disputes and to have more control over player activity year round," Taylor said.

"There was overwhelming support for the NZFC from all eight franchises.

"They are all keen to build on that, with most agreeing that they might need to bring in more off-field staff to help achieve that."

Clubs and NZS will continue to discuss the question of youth players and academies with Taylor suggesting there might be a change to the rule which makes the naming of five youth players mandatory.

He also said NZS would take a practical view in agreeing any changes with regard to team coaches.

"We are all aware coaches must meet the International Team Licence requirement but will look at all situations," Taylor said.

"If clubs and coaches can show they are working towards that we will obviously consider it."

In changes already announced, Steve Cain has replaced Chris Milicich at Waitakere and Perry Cotton has stepped up to replace Charlie Howe at Napier.

Mick Waitt has been reappointed in Wellington.