Central Coast Football (CCF) confirms that East Gosford FC will not participate in this year’s Men’s Premier League (MPL) competition.

The withdrawal follows a challenging off-season in which the club was unable to retain enough players to field a senior squad and subsequent discussions between CCF & the club over several weeks. The Club has presented to CCF an inability to form a Senior Squad in either MPL or DIV1 competitions, and as such will have no representation in 2025 Premier Competitions. 

Evolving trends in the competition have made it increasingly difficult for clubs that rely on player development and volunteer-driven models to compete with those leveraging external resources. This imbalance threatens to undermine the foundation of the competition itself, shifting the focus away from sustainable club growth and community engagement toward short-term gain

To safeguard the integrity of the MPL and ensure the league remains competitive and balanced, the CCF Board has resolved that Avoca FC, who finished ninth in the 2024 season, will replace East Gosford FC in the top-flight competition.

Avoca FC has accepted this opportunity and is committed to maintaining the high standards of the MPL

CCF also takes the issue of late MPL withdrawals seriously. As such, East Gosford FC will be required to work collaboratively with CCF on matters including:

• • • Ineligibility to nominate for Men’s Premier League and may return only into the Division 1 competition in 2026 or later.
    • A mandated internal review of operations & club structures to recruit & retain players, volunteers and committee.

The CCF Board is committed to holding clubs accountable for their commitments while also working to ensure East Gosford FC’s long-term viability.

Looking ahead, Central Coast Football’s primary focus is to work constructively with East Gosford FC so they may, in time, rejoin CCF premier competitions.