Football’s top WaiBop league and the Southern Conference could get a summer shake up. Ōtorohanga can’t be promoted while it doesn’t have an Under-23 team, and it would be surprising if an exception was made for the Southern Conference when clubs in the Northern Conference must abide by the regulations. But at least one club Ōtorohanga pipped to the Waikato title could still go up if the cards fall a certain way. Southern Conference champions Cambridge face a home and away clash with Northern Conference winners Waitemata or Waiheke United for a place in the second tier of the Northern league – and success for the Waipā club would open a conference space which Northern United would want. It would also see Cambridge, Melville, Wanderers and Ngāruawāhia in the same Northern League division. Matamata, who finished third in WaiBop League One, are also thought to have ambitions of playing at a higher level. Te Awamutu was one of several WaiBop clubs promoted to the Southern Conference for 2023, but while the club has excelled in bringing juniors into the game it has found it difficult to match opponents at conference level. If the Reds don’t keep their conference place on the back of this season’s struggles, Matamata might be keen to replace them. Football authorities are likely to want to get decisions made early. Last year the Northern Conference was started a second time after the belated promotion of Central following a ruling by the Sport Tribunal of New Zealand in March.Football’s top WaiBop league and the Southern Conference could get a summer shake up.
Ōtorohanga can’t be promoted while it doesn’t have an Under-23 team, and it would be surprising if an exception was made for the Southern Conference when clubs in the Northern Conference must abide by the regulations.
But at least one club Ōtorohanga pipped to the Waikato title could still go up if the cards fall a certain way.
Southern Conference champions Cambridge face a home and away clash with Northern Conference winners Waitemata or Waiheke United for a place in the second tier of the Northern league – and success for the Waipā club would open a conference space which Northern United would want.
It would also see Cambridge, Melville, Wanderers and Ngāruawāhia in the same Northern League division.
Matamata, who finished third in WaiBop League One, are also thought to have ambitions of playing at a higher level.
Te Awamutu was one of several WaiBop clubs promoted to the Southern Conference for 2023, but while the club has excelled in bringing juniors into the game it has found it difficult to match opponents at conference level.
If the Reds don’t keep their conference place on the back of this season’s struggles, Matamata might be keen to replace them.
Football authorities are likely to want to get decisions made early. Last year the Northern Conference was started a second time after the belated promotion of Central following a ruling by the Sport Tribunal of New Zealand in March.
