WERRIBEE City is one of the 44 clubs to have put in an expression of interest (EOI) in joining the new elite National Premier League Victoria competition.
The Bees put in an EOI before Friday’s cut-off and were one of 35 metropolitan clubs to do so.
The other nine submissions came from country clubs.
“We did put in our expression of interest,” Bees sports director Giorgio Pastorini said. “I am optimistic about it.”
Some clubs within the Victorian soccer community have questioned the decision to break away from the traditional structure.
Two of the most powerful clubs in the western suburbs, the Melbourne Knights and Green Gully Cavaliers, decided against putting in EOIs.
But Football Federation Victoria chief executive Peter Gome said a total of 44 EOIs, including the majority of Victorian Premier League clubs, was a good response.
“Interest from such a large pool of clubs ensures Victoria will get the best possible competition for development, entertainment and competitiveness,” he said. “Forty-four EOIs is a huge vote of confidence in the NPLV format.
“Now the business end of the process is about to begin and FFV will assist clubs [to] prepare their applications.”
NPLV is scheduled to start in 2014.
