Monaro Panthers slam 'shortsighted' decision to cut an NPLW team

Capital Football announced a restructure of its National Premier League on Friday, with all competitions to have eight teams from 2021.

It means the NPLW and men's second-division will be reduced by one team respectively, a cull designed to alleviate the performance gap between the ladder-leaders and cellar-dwellers.

Nicoletti has questioned the strategy amid an uncertain time for the sport, with local clubs still facing financial and logistical challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Monaro is also bracing for an increase of female participation in the lead up to the 2023 World Cup, with the club already taking steps to strengthen its women's program.

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But having finished last this season, Nicoletti fears the joint-venture Monaro and Brindabella Blues side could be cut by the Capital Football board in late October.

"I think it's very shallow minded from Capital Football," Nicoletti said.

"To drop a club from a competition is a pretty drastic step to make and shows there's a lack of strategy from Capital Football, in the sense of trying to develop the game at the grassroots level.

"In our partnership with Brindabella, we had 300 girls participating in the pathway to the Premier League. If the decision goes against us and Monaro is cut, that's 300 girls.

"Are we worried and stressed? Yes. Also, imposing this in a year where we've had tremendous challenges with COVID-19 - and financial stresses of running a club through it - it's just another layer of stress we don't need."

Monaro and Tuggeranong United have struggled in terms of results in recent NPLW seasons, while teams in Canberra's north have flourished as the population booms.

Should either team be cut, it would leave the Queanbeyan and southern Canberra regions with limited access to NPL pathways - forcing local players to look elsewhere.

Nicoletti argued the NPLW restructure would stunt development of the women's game in Canberra rather than increase it, given a region could be prevented from exposing young talent.

"Queanbeyan-Palerang is a growing region, especially with the developments of Googong and Jerrabomberra. We see our numbers growing in the future, especially in the junior ranks," Nicoletti said.

"Having a girl's and women's program, we'll only get stronger. Yes, our results in the last couple of years have not been flattering by all means. There have been very few teams in the south that have been able to compete and get near the top four - Tuggeranong and Monaro have been fighting for the bottom place.

"But if you want to develop the game, you're not going to do it by eliminating a whole geographical region from the equation. How is that going to assist the girls?

"For me, it's a lazy option by the technical committee and the Capital Football board to have come up with. Let's see what happens."

The application process for the 2021 Premier League season will take place over the coming weeks, with the Capital Football board to chose competing teams at their next meeting.

Players from the cut team will have to change clubs if they wish to continue their NPLW careers, otherwise the State League looms a tier below.

Nicoletti has implored Capital Football to consider a second-division for the women's competition, with the home World Cup expected to generate interest in the coming years.

"By all means that should be looked into. If you've got enough players but their quality is not good enough at the moment to compete in NPL1, maybe there could be a second-division with promotion and relegation," Nicoletti said.

"It would open up to have other clubs participate in the NPLW. Whether it's a second-tier program, it's still NPL and would give girls coming through a chance and a pathway."