Armidale-based clubs have expressed mixed responses to Northern Inland Football's plans to restructure the senior competition from next season.
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The association announced a new format for 2020 last Thursday which will see Premier League scrapped. In its place will be a North and a South conference, each with eight clubs contesting 14 rounds before a cross-conference finals series.
The North Conference will feature the four Armidale clubs who contested the old Premier League, plus four more clubs to be drawn from the New England competition.
The South Conference will follow a similar mold.
South Armidale president Joe Campbell wasn't disappointed with the restructure, but believes Northern Inland Football have failed to respond to clubs who have raised various concerns.
"In general terms, the new structure isn't bad," he said.
"NIF have got the right reasons why they want to do this; more inclusion and it would be great to play the Inverells and Glen Innes' and get them involved, boost the general levels up.
"But it doesn't address the issues the clubs have had.
"Things happened last season that a lot of clubs weren't happy with and it just takes the fun out of the game.
"We want to go back to having fun and try and be competitive as well."
Campbell felt NIF didn't consult the clubs enough before make their decision to restructure.
"We didn't have too much involvement from clubs, it would have been nicer have a bit more involvement from a club point," he said.
Campbell's Demon Knights counterpart, Luke Birmingham, echoed his thoughts.
"No one asked us for any feedback and that is pretty disappointing," Birmingham said.
"It is not a bad idea but there are a few things that could be worked out but we will see how it goes."
Birmingham was disappointed with the reduction of games for the season.
"[That is] one of the big differences considering we played 21 or 22 games last year and we are back to 14," he said.
"Don't feel like there is a lot of rounds involved.
"I doubt fees are going to drop 30 per cent considering the amount of games you drop is that much."
But Birmingham also found positives for the new structure.
"There are good and bad things about it," he said.
"For us, as a club, it is probably better because students will get the opportunity to come up and play seniors.
"It is not as daunting having to play certain teams."
East Armidale struggled throughout 2019 with a lack of numbers contributing to their win-less premier league season.
Easts' president Jarrod Burton believes players having to turn out for reserve grade fixtures, and then again in first grade immediately after, wreaked havoc on their season.
"I think the problem is reserve grade," he said.
His suggestion was: "Scrap ressies have one side in premier league making it stronger because players won't have to play half a game before first!
"The association know the problem, and have for a while, and have done nothing.
"Drop ressies to first grade locals making it stronger!
"We, as a club, were asked by the association for our thoughts and nothing was done to address our concerns."
