New South Wales National Premier League clubs "are on a warpath with Football Federation of Australia" after plans to homogenize two tiers of youth football "sparked a bitter feud and a boycott of a high-profile meeting," according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Eleven of the 12 NPL division one clubs "refused to meet" Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou, FFA Technical Dir Eric Abrams and FFA Head of National Performance Luke Casserly on Thursday night "amid fury over plans to dissolve the top tier of youth football." The FFA's proposal for the NSW NPL division one and NPL division two "to be absorbed into one grade split by geography was met with anger from all but one of the state's highest-ranked clubs who are unwilling to agree to the new system." The proposal has been praised by several coaches in youth development who believe young players "need to focus on performance not results," while Football NSW CEO Eddie Moore is "not concerned with the potential of lopsided results in a proposed mixed competition." Moore: "The gap between clubs that are NPL 1 or NPL 2 doesn't automatically mean that it's of a varied standard. The bottom line is that Sydney and NSW is too big to not have kids excel in their own backyards." However, the "overwhelming majority of NPL 1 clubs feel aggrieved having invested heavily in youth development and senior elite performances especially given their limited earnings opportunities." APIA Leichhardt President and NPL 1 standing committee Vice Chair Tony Raciti fears the proposed model "could lead to the clubs reducing funding for youth teams because they no longer fear relegation." It has been mooted that "some current NPL 1 clubs could shift resources to private academies instead of youth teams should the FFA's proposed flatline system of the two leagues be introduced" (SMH, 3/12).
