Push to reinstate soccer state league
BY MARK BAKER
29 Mar, 2012 04:00 AM

AS Northern Premier League sides prepare for the 2012 season start on Saturday, Football Federation Tasmania is working towards a rebranded state league in 2013.

An announcement on the viability of an eight-team T-League is expected at the end of June and club applications are due by May 18.

FFT chief executive John Boulous said the feedback from clubs wanting to take part had been very good. ``It won't be for every club but over time we hope it will improve the standards of what clubs are able to offer participants,'' he said.

``It's exciting because there will be a lot of talent within those eight teams, which we're still very hopeful will be across all three regions of Tasmania.''

If successful, the T-League would be expanded to 10 teams, which could include five southern clubs, three Launceston-based clubs and two from the North-West.

Boulous said FFT did not have a preferred ratio of North, North-West and South teams but rather, it depended on what clubs met the criteria best.

``We will conduct meetings with clubs that put in applications to nut that detail out,'' he said. The last state league ran from 1978 to 1982, was suspended for five years and resumed for another 12 years before falling over again in 2000 due, in part, to the burden of travel on northern sides.

Boulous said FFT was still seeking sponsorship for the T-League, which will be crucial in covering costs, particularly club's travel and prize money.

The T-League champion would win $12,000, second place $5000, third place $3500 and fourth place $1500, while a finals series would pay $4000 for first, $2000 for second and $1000 for third and fourth.

T-League push a priority
JULIUS ROSS | April 06, 2012 12.01am

WITH a Tasmanian side off the A-League radar in the near future, Football Federation Tasmania is turning its focus to establishing a viable and thriving T-League state soccer competition.

The state's governing body said it was aiming to start a T-League next year.

"While there is undoubtedly the interest and the passion for an A-League team in Tasmania, FFT will continue to improve the fundamentals of the game here before we can take this ambitious step," the FFT said.

"This means continuing to improve our facilities, supporting our National Training Centre, developing our young talent, and improving our competitions.

"The biggest step to achieving this will be successfully creating and running the T-League from next season."

FFT has received positive feedback from clubs and has provided them with application forms for entry into the league.

With an eight-team league proposed, eligible clubs must have one team in the northern Premier League or southern Premier League and at least one in the junior levels.

The FFT has emphasised representation from the South, North and North-West is "desirable".

The T-League, however, will be based on which clubs best meet the criteria, regardless of location.

A likely scenario is five teams from the South, two from the North and one from the North-West.

FFT will invite clubs into league after review of following criteria:

Governance of club (management structure);
Club business plan;
Grounds and facilities;
Technical aspects (such as recent performance);
Player pathway (junior/youth development models);
Plans for promotion/marketing.
Club applications are only one T-League consideration.

The league is dependent on a major sponsorship deal, which FFT says it is in the process of securing.