Football NSW can officially announce that the 2010 NSW Premier League will consist of twelve (12) teams, inclusive of the Rockdale City Suns which has gained promotion after winning the tightly contested NSW Super League Competition this season.

Wollongong Community Football Club has retained its position in the NSW Premier League competition despite finishing bottom of the NSW Premier League Club Championship.

The Board of Football NSW in making the decision not to relegate Wollongong Community Football Club did so, on the basis that the position of the club is but one consideration in determining the criteria for inclusion in the NSW Premier League.

The 2010 NSW Premier League will consist of the following entities –

Legal Entity (Brand Name)

APIA Leichhardt Tigers Football Club Inc. (APIA Leichhardt Tigers)
Bankstown City Football Club Inc. (Bankstown City FC)
Blacktown City Demons Inc. (Blacktown City Demons)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles Sports Club Ltd (Bonnyrigg White Eagles)
Canterbury Marrickville Olympic Soccer Football Club Ltd (West Sydney Berries)
Manly United Football Club Ltd (Manly United)
Club Marconi of Bossley Park Social Recreation & Sporting Club (Marconi Stallions)
Rockdale Ilinden Soccer Club Inc. (Rockdale City Suns)
Sutherland Sharks Football Club Inc. (Sutherland Sharks)
Sydney United Football Club Pty Ltd (Sydney United)
Sydney Olympic Football Club Ltd (Sydney Olympic)
Wollongong Community Football Club Pty Ltd (Wollongong CFC)
Many of the clubs were granted conditional entry into the league and are on notice that their performance against the criteria for participation in the NSW Premier League will be under review during the 2010 Season.

Each club has been notified that its inclusion in the NSW Premier League competition obligates them to be a committed partner to the implementation of the business plan upon which the current competition was established.

The criteria for the NSW Premier League competition was established by the Football Committee Report of July 2005.

The Chief Executive Officer of Football NSW, Mr. Michael Quarmby, commented as follows;

“Management had provided to me five possible scenarios for the makeup of the NSW Premier League. Those scenarios included a competition which could comprise of eight (8), ten (10), or twelve (12) teams. It would not be unfair to say that a number of clubs have significant challenges when weighed against the criteria established for the NSW Premier League Competition. Those Clubs have been advised of what is required of them to maintain their presence in the NSW Premier League beyond the 2010 season. While Football NSW will work to assist those Clubs, the fundamental responsibility does rest with those individual entities.”

“Clearly, the focus of our NSW Premier League Standing Committee will need to be on measuring the overall performance of the Clubs as a collective in meeting the identified criteria established for the NSW Premier League. To assist in this process, it has been a condition of participation that each club be a committed partner to the implementation of the structure and business plan developed for the NSW Premier League. In this regard, we have issued each Club with the report and recommendations upon which the current competition was based.”

“Ultimately, the NSW Premier League is about quality and not quantity. This needs to be the approach if the NSW Premier League is to maintain its pre-eminent position as the key competition which underpins the development of players for the A-League.”

The Board is committed to the implementation of the report and recommendations which had been prepared to ensure Football NSW could meet the Mission Statement for its flagship competition – ‘To create an exciting, vibrant football competition with commercial appeal, comprised of viable, professionally administered clubs working closely with their district communities, the football family and Football NSW to build the image of the competition’.