KEY POINTS:
NZFC clubs are in talks about taking over the running of the league so it can reflect what they want and help New Zealand Football save money.
The idea was first suggested by former NZF chief executive Graham Seatter to the eight franchises last year, with a view to taking over for the season starting in November.
It's unlikely the franchises will be ready to do that this season but it could act as a hand-over year.
"Our plans are well advanced and we are at the stage that it could fly tomorrow," said Rex Dawkins, Waitakere United chairman and spokesman for the eight franchises.
"But the season is so close that the franchises need to be concentrating on the league. It would be silly to do it this year."
The national body are in a massive cost-cutting phase after recording losses over the past three years which effectively cost Seatter his job. Giving the franchises control of the league was seen as one way to reduce costs.
"We have had some discussions with the clubs and they have some good points," NZF spokesman Fred de Jong said. "We are not opposed to the idea but don't know how it would look so it's up to the clubs to come back to us with a proposal to say why we should do this.
"It depends on what it looks like [as to whether NZF will support it]. If they want to take over the whole running of the league, it might not be something we are comfortable with because, once you give it up, it's hard to get it back. If that's their intention, then we need to know what the league is going to look like in 10 years."
One thing that delayed discussions was last week's congress and the prospect of a new board that might have different priorities. John Morris was replaced as chairman by previous board member Frank van Hattum, while de Jong, Andrew Titter, Mark Aspden and Bill Moran also return. Mark Stewart and Peter O'Hara are newcomers to the board.
Dawkins and de Jong will now meet this week to discuss the independent NZFC proposal.
Dawkins said concerns for the league's future had seen the franchises unanimously support a plan to assume control of the NZFC.
"My fear is that if we don't make some radical changes and run the league as a business, we could have some casualties [among the franchises] sooner rather than later," he said. "We are the top club but we are finding it tough going. The viability of the league is at stake so we need to find a way to keep the NZFC alive."
It costs $300,000 to $400,000 to fund an NZFC team each year, including the $65,000 entry fee. Greater financial sustainability is one of the franchises' main aims and Dawkins said that would improve with better marketing, management and TV deals.
"We think it would work because there is little or no commercial sponsorship in the game and that's an area we'd look to find opportunities. We want to drive the league to a different level and develop the game further than is being done at the moment."
Dawkins said they were open to increasing the number of teams in the league to 10 and keen to develop the youth league.
Waitakere United have signed All Whites midfielder Jeff Campbell, who played for Auckland City last season.
