Tara Murray
Melbourne Knights and Green Gully are among the 32 clubs to submit expressions of interest to take part in the National Second Tier men’s soccer competition.
The EOI process was launched by Football Australia in February to assess the level of interest and refine the strategy, vision, competition format, operation, and administration for a new national tier of football between the A-League Men competition and the National Premier Leagues.
The National Second Tier is expected to begin in March 2024 and will form between 10 and 16 teams with a home and away league structure and finals, featuring 24 to 36 games.
Melbourne Knights vice-president Simon Pincic said a club with such proud history, they are keen to be on the national
“It’s really exciting,” he said. “It’s been about 20 years since we played in a national competition.
“We finally have the opportunity again to step back into the limelight. We won back-to-back cups in the mid-90s.
“Our spectators were used to sustained success and they were used to the club playing at that level.
“We almost didn’t have a choice to apply, it’s where we need to be.”
Pincic said the reaction from fans about the decision to put in an expression of interest had been really good.
He said they were really getting behind the club and they were hoping to be on the national stage with the big crowds that they had 20 years ago.
Green Gully spent three seasons previously in the National Soccer League in the 1980s. It has been one of the most successful clubs in the state league, winning nine titles.
Following the evaluation of the EOI responses, the next phase of the process will be the request for proposal phase, which is expected to run from April to June 2023.
During this phase, only shortlisted parties from the EOI phase will be invited to submit detailed proposals.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson expressed excitement at the strong engagement during the EOI phase.
“We underwent a lengthy consultation process last year so we knew there would be great interest and we are thrilled with the level of interest shown in the EOI phase and the calibre of clubs which have expressed their interest,” he said.
