Northern NSW Football are planning a July restart with reduced games for its top-flight women's competition.
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The Herald Women's Premier League clubs met online last week to discuss options for a July return, subject to the approval of health authorities and resumption of community sport. The NSW Government's Public Health Order, with restrictions on community gatherings, is in place until June 30.
Two rounds of the 21-round women's competition had been played when football around Australia was suspended in March due to the coronavirus crisis.
If given the green light to go ahead, NNSWF boss David Eland said the WPL will resume as a 14-round competition, inclusive of the two rounds already played. It is hopeful finals can also be played.
"The clubs have agreed it's going to be two rounds not three," Eland said. "The competition will just pick up where it was, so the games that have been played will stand and we'll look to play two rounds, probably with finals."
Adamstown opened the season with back-to-back wins over Thornton and defending champions New Lambton to lead the league on six points. Second-placed Merewether are also unbeaten after an opening round draw with the Eagles then victory over Newcastle Olympic. Broadmeadow are the only team yet to play a game.
Plans for the women's competition to reach National Premier League status by 2021 have been put back a year.
"There was support to delay NPLW until 2022," he said. "The clubs just don't have the time to dedicate to the process. They're just going to have to concentrate on getting back on the park for 2020.
"That will enable us also to do a much broader expression of interest process. And we're hoping that there may be some clubs outside of the current WPL that want to apply.
"Obviously, if we pushed forward with an application process now I don't think there would be too many community clubs putting their hand up because they're just going to have to focus on getting back on the park for 2020."
One change they are planning to implement next year is the introduction of a fifth grade. WPL comprises 14s, 17s, 20s and first grade but Eland said from 2021 they will move to have teams in 13s, 15s, 17s, reserves and first grade.
