By
Melanie Dinjaski
Updated August 27 2025 - 5:55pm, first published 5:27pm
Capital Football has reiterated the controversial changes proposed in its NPL review will go ahead as planned, as it faces growing criticism from the soccer community.
The peak soccer body in the region defended the review and its processes implementing
wide-ranging changes to the NPL landscape which has now drawn the ire of Queanbeyan-Palerang Council mayor, Kenrick Winchester, who has escalated Monaro Panthers' protest by taking the issue to NSW, ACT and federal ministers.
"Something needs to happen here - this decision can't stand," Winchester told
The Canberra Times, with his own son impacted by the Panthers being one of four clubs axed from the NPL Boys competitions in 2026.
"Our state and federal members are very well aware of it and watching with a keen interest."
Many club representatives that have reached out to this masthead since the NPL review report was officially released in May have had various concerns about the review.
Some clubs felt its implementation had been too hasty, and there are other concerns about the review's transparency of process, potential conflicts of interest, inconsistencies in the recommendations, how the changes impacts shared facilities use, and there is a perception that Capital Football has lacked the necessary support and communication.
In response to these criticisms that are growing louder within the community,
Capital Football doubled down on the review's findings and remain committed to continuing planned changes for 2026.
The sporting body said a review was commissioned in 2024 to evaluate the current NPL structure, and it was last year potential changes were initially flagged for this season.
After clubs argued that would not be enough time for implementation, Capital Football said "the release of the report was delayed" until this year, "ensuring that clubs had a clear runway to prepare for the 2026 season instead".
"Capital Football acknowledges the feedback received from clubs regarding the implementation of the NPL review report's recommendations," the body said in a statement.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Council mayor Kenrick Winchester and his son Harry. Picture by Gary Ramage
"Capital Football's role is to govern and manage the game in the best interests of football in our region. While we understand some clubs are unhappy with aspects of the review and its implementation, our responsibility is to take a broader, long-term view.
"The objective is to strengthen our competition and ensure clubs are able to place greater focus on developing junior pathways, which is vital for the future of the game.
"We have been engaging with clubs throughout this process. Club presidents were involved and briefed on the draft recommendations in August 2024 and again in February 2025.
"We recognise there may be communication challenges within some club organisations, but we are confident that the consultation process was thorough and inclusive.
"Capital Football remains committed to supporting clubs during this transition, continuing open dialogue, and working together to achieve a stronger and more sustainable competition for the benefit of the entire football community."
Harry, 13, son of Kenrick Winchester. Picture by Gary Ramage
Winchester's son was one of a group of Panthers juniors on track to make the jump from juniors to NPL Boys level next season, but is now facing a tough fork in the road.
"He's caught up in this, potentially having to make a decision whether he sticks with Monaro, plays for his school, or trials for another NPL club. He shouldn't have to make that decision," the mayor said.
"All the kids have come through together and this is likely to send them in different directions. I think it's ridiculous.
"You've got a club that wants to play at the top level and has all the facilities, coaching, the infrastructure, and is one of the only clubs that has a pathway from four-year-olds through to first grade.
"But it's been taken away from them because someone's come up with a decision saying that the competition should have 10 clubs, with no scientific backing behind it.
"Our kids are not going to have the opportunity to play at the highest level."
Related: READ THE FULL CAPITAL FOOTBALL NPL REVIEW REPORT HERE
South Jerrabomberra Sporting Complex is where juniors at Monaro currently play, but with the Panthers omitted from the NPL Boys level, that venue - that was a $36 million project - will not able to be used at the same capacity by the broader NPL soccer community.
Winchester reached out to ACT Minister for Sport Yvette Berry and wrote to NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper.
It comes as another group of parents also took their issues about the NPL review report to Capital Football chief executive Samantha Farrow, and the ACT government, and requested a meeting.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Erin, whose child plays in in NPL Boys for West Canberra Wanderers, felt blindsided by the review, describing it in a letter to the aforementioned parties as "inconsistent, lacking in transparency, and highly destabilising."
West Canberra Wanderers are fighting for their NPL Boys. Picture by Sitthixay Ditthavong
She claimed the first rumblings of changes among Canberra region clubs last year was the starting point to frustration that has since snowballed when the review was finally made public in May.
"The uncertainty around NPL status in late 2024 forced many families at West Canberra to move clubs in search of clarity, which weakened squads in older age groups and placed excessive pressure on our younger teams from the outset of the 2025 season," she wrote.
"This is neither sustainable nor fair, and no single team should be left carrying the burden of a club's NPL viability as a result of delayed decision and communication from our governing body.
"A more constructive approach would have been a phased rollout over two to three seasons."
From the parents' perspective, Erin was hopeful Capital Football would at least pause the review, or scrap it altogether and start again "in a proper manner", believing that clubs have not had enough to time to appeal the decisions.
"People aren't saying there isn't a need for reform, but they're saying there needs to be a process that clubs can undertake in a fair manner," Erin told
The Canberra Times.
"It seems the way that Capital Football have done their reviews, they've kind of done it in this isolated space.
"They gave people a month, a very short period of time, to submit exemption requests about how they were going to meet a lot of criteria by the following year. Many clubs need more time to come up with a plan. From a business perspective it's unreasonable.
"The reason why West Canberra is very different than some other clubs is that if our boys aren't in the NPL, the club is pretty much decimated.
"It's not fair and there's a lot of parents and players upset."
On Monday, the Panthers
shared a petition on its social media accounts, similarly calling for more time from Capital Football before implementing review changes.
Sports Reporter
Melanie Dinjaski is an experienced sports journalist at the Canberra Times with a genuine love of all sports. She's covered every code from NRL to NFL. Melanie aims to bring Canberrans all the sports news they need to know. If you have a story worth sharing, get in touch!
All Comments
Comment by Luke Santolin.
All of a sudden, Capital Football is discussing the timeline of the review with the media and trying to sneak in details about the 'consultation' that took place with clubs.
They even have the gall to now blame the clubs for their internal communication not being great
Meanwhile, there is a letter written and signed by 12 ACT Club Presidents saying that 'NO MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION' ever took place which was not circulated around the Capital Football board for more than 21 days.
And they want to talk to us about internal communication.
The hypocrisy and disdain shown by this board to the Football Community is employed to govern is almost criminal in nature. But I better stop speaking
This isn't controversial. This is a massacre. And somehow nobody is doing anything to stop it
Comment by Belinda Eidum.
I'm grateful to The Canberra Times for highlighting this important local issue, which affects many families and communities across the region. At a time when increasing participation in sport should be a shared goal, it's deeply concerning to see decisions being made by the sport's governing body that may instead discourage involvement.
For many players and their families, the recent restructuring decisions by Capital Football could force an uncomfortable choice: switch clubs to remain in a competitive environment, drop to a lower tier, or leave the sport entirely. Not all players have the means to travel further afield for training, and clubs that are removed from the NPL competition risk losing players, sponsors, and the ability to attract new talent — potentially threatening their very existence.
The implementation of the review feels like a disservice to the players, families, and countless volunteers who dedicate time and energy to supporting local football.
Moreover, Capital Football's claim that the review is being implemented as planned is questionable. The decision to allow Wagga Wagga to remain in NPLB — contrary to the original recommendations — has resulted in the removal of four local clubs from the competition instead of three, undermining confidence in the process and its fairness.
In light of the lack of genuine consultation with those most affected, it seems only reasonable to pause the rollout. Clubs and communities need adequate time and support to prepare for such significant changes.
We all want to see football in our region thrive. But that will only happen if Capital Football commits to working collaboratively and transparently with clubs and the broader community, ensuring that reforms truly serve the best interests of the sport.
