Soccer: Patient look at championship structure

There will be no quick fix to off-field issues as the New Zealand Football Championship heads to the end of the first of three rounds.

Auckland City's appeal against the three points they were stripped of in their 1-0 away win over Waitakere United has gone to the three-person (independent lawyers) appeals committee.

NZFC league manager Glyn Taylor says a decision is unlikely before the middle of this month.

The question of the makeup of future championships was discussed this week and will be the subject of further discussions before a recommendation is made to a New Zealand Soccer board meeting in the last week of November.

Taylor says a number of points need to be considered in looking at the competition structure.

YoungHeart Manawatu are on notice and under pressure to shape up or risk losing their place in the eight-team championship.

NZS is also considering five applications from new franchises keen to join the NZFC.