Auckland FC keen to take part in proposed OFC Professional League

Being unable to compete in the AFC Champions League Elite competition has A-League premiers Auckland FC exploring other options.

Auckland FC’s disappointment at being unable to compete in next season’s AFC Champions League Elite competition may be tempered by the Black Knights’ potential participation in next year’s proposed OFC Professional League.

A spot in the lucrative AFC Champions League Elite competition usually goes to the winner of the A-League premiership.

However, despite winning the A-League Premier’s Plate in their debut season, the Black Knights are ineligible to compete in an Asian Football Confederation competition as they are a club from New Zealand, which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation.

The A-League’s Champions League Elite representative next season will therefore be the team that finishes second on the ladder.

Auckland FC players celebrate after winning the A-League premiership. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

With one round of the regular season remaining, four clubs – Melbourne City, Western United, Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory – remain in contention for second spot.

Auckland could yet play a part in determining who finishes second, with the Black Knights meeting Western United – placed third – at Ironbark Fields on Saturday night.

And while the Steve Corica-coached Black Knights have switched their focus to adding the A-League championship to their premiership success by winning next month’s finals series, they are also planning for next season in the hope of competing in the OFC Professional League, a planned new eight-team competition set to start in January involving Oceania clubs and potentially also including at least one Australian NPL club.

As is the case with the AFC Champions League Elite, the winner of the OFC Professional League would have the chance to play in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and every four years in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Auckland FC goalkeeper Alex Paulsen is elated after his team’s effort to win the A-League premiership. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Black Knights chief executive Nick Becker said the club had made a submission to be part of the OFC Professional League and had the support of the Australian Professional Leagues – which runs the A-League – the OFC and New Zealand Football.

“We’re just waiting confirmation of whether we’re accepted into the league and what the player regulations and all the infrastructures are,” Becker said.

“We don’t have full visibility on player regulations on who can and can’t compete in it and the number of A-League players we’d be able to field in that competition.

“We’d probably have to have effectively two squads … but we’ve got a decent-sized squad now, so we’d like to use as many of our own players as possible.

“It would be a good result to be in it to make up for (being unable to play in the AFC Champions League Elite competition).”

Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand’s other A-League club, has also made a submission to play in the OFC Professional League, which would conclude with a final in May next year.