Tauranga City United coach Duncan Lowry says the new make-up of next year's ASB Premiership will make it harder for Bay of Plenty football clubs to keep quality players in the region.

However, New Zealand Football have disputed his claims, insisting the new set-up will enhance the game.

Tauranga City United coach Duncan Lowry. Photo: Bob Ricketts.

The new ten-team structure for the ASB Premiership's 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons was revealed yesterday, with Waikato/Bay of Plenty side WaiBOP United missing from the roster after passing their registration to Hamilton Wanderers.

The announcement came after a review of the national football league that invited expressions of interest for a two year National League Football Licence. Hamilton Wanderers were among the applicants, supported by the WaiBOP Football Federation.

The Federation, which has been managing WaiBOP United since the start of the 2013/14 season, took the view that only one team from the region could be supported due to what they call 'player, coaching and financial pressures”.

Following a meeting in early December, WaiBOP's board formally sought approval from New Zealand Football to transfer their licence to Hamilton Wanderers, who have since met NZ Football's licencing criteria.

But Tauranga coach Lowry, who recently led his side to promotion to the Northern Premier League, says the new set-up will make it difficult to attract top players to the Bay, and makes it even harder for the region's younger players to make it into the top tier of football.

'Certainly I'm concerned,” he admits. 'I've put three years into this club and it's taken us three years to get into the top league. In two years' time they're going to put another step ladder in front of me.

'Right now I can phone players up and say ‘look, come and play for us because you will be playing in the top league in New Zealand.' In two years' time I can't say that. That concerns me because it has taken me three years to be able to say that.”

Duncan says the structure of the ASB Premiership does not have a promotion and relegation process, meaning richer clubs will continue to prosper while clubs like Tauranga City United won't be able to afford to move to the division.

'This is what frustrates me about the like of the ASB Premiership – there is no promotion or relegation.

'Whoever the richest clubs are, they're the ones that stay there the longest, and it shouldn't be like that. It's basically like a franchise. Whoever has the most money in the pot gets the licence.”

Duncan says there is no way a Bay of Plenty club would currently meet the criteria to be granted a licence into the ASB Premiership.

'Here is the issue,” he says. 'At the moment, there is a criteria that has to be met. At the minute they're asking for a $250,000 entrance fee into this new league, which is a lot of money.

'There are not a lot of clubs I know of that have $250,000 in their bank account right now.

Tauranga City United players Sam Nahna, Jordan Culpepper and Colm Kenny celebrate promotion to the Northern Premier League. Photo: Bob Ricketts.

'Things have to be in place, including a first team, a development squad, a reserve team and a ladies XI. So at the minute, we are like most clubs in New Zealand – far from that.”

New Zealand Football community football director Cameron Mitchell disagrees with Duncan's assessment, and claims while the licence has been transferred to the Wanderers, the status quo will continue.

'The player pathways WaiBOP have been drawing upon include the Bay of Plenty,” says Cameron.

'With the licence being transferred to the Wanderers, it's a similar catchment area to the one WaiBOP currently pull their players from.”

Cameron says it was a similar situation when WaiBOP took over the licence from Waikato FC.

When it comes to the granting of licences to play in the ASB competition, Cameron says there is no entry fee into the competition, but in the past it has cost around $65,000 to cover travel, which New Zealand Football currently covers via a funding partnership.

'What we're trying to do is open the competition up so there is a pathway for clubs out of regional competitions,” he says.

'Moving forward, in 2018/19 there will be a promotion/relegation opportunity from the regional leagues.

'Therefore, if Tauranga City United succeed to the Premiere League level and win that competition, then clearly they may have an opportunity to be involved in National League football.”

Cameron says New Zealand Football are attempting to 'reposition” the sport and national competition pathways are central to making that happen.

However, Duncan retains the belief that football in New Zealand is treated like an amateur sport and clubs cannot afford to be paying the sums of money expected by New Zealand Football.

The new make-up of the ASB Premiership will not interfere with the remainder of this season's competition.