After having finished last season in the last two positions and earmarked for relegation, the Maltese community Sydney-backed club has been selected again to be in the new 10-team NSW Premier League

Soccer NSW last week announced the 10 teams to gain entry to next season's new-look competition, commencing on January 28.

After careful deliberation, the Board of Soccer NSW has decided the clubs that best met its selection criteria. These are: Sydney Utd, Mar-coni Stallions, APIA Leichhardt, Manly Utd, Bankstown City Lions, Parramatta Eagles, Sydney Olympic FC, Sutherland Sharks, Wollongong Wolves and Blacktown City Demons.

Tony Azzopardi, Parramatta Melita Eagles president welcomed the news.

He said: "The Eagles will be celebrating their 50th year next year as one of the elite clubs in NSW. It is a credit to my board of directors who turned the club around and the faithful band of supporters who had faith in the direction our club wants to take.

"It was also established that at the Melita Stadium we have the best facilities for football and this was recognised by Soccer NSW."

"We have appointed Raul Blanco, one of Australia's top coaches, taking over the Youth Academy and the 'A' sides under his wings," Azzopardi, currently on a short visit to Malta, added.

The 10 successful clubs have been granted two-year tenure in the Premier League, commencing 2006.

The Board of Soccer NSW and its football committee came to its decision after evaluating each club on a range of criteria.

The set criteria were outlined in the Application Documentation and Busi-ness Plan, which was made available to interested clubs in August.

Furthermore, the ten teams met Soccer NSW regional criteria with the new competition boasting teams representing every geographic region of Sydney.

These include the Central West, Central East, Far South, Far West, North and South West regions.

Whilst Soccer NSW acknowledges the impact this decision is likely to have on unsuccessful clubs, it also recognises the verdict was necessary in order to raise the quality of the NSW Premier League both on and off the field.

Indeed the move has not been one Soccer NSW has taken lightly.

The organisation is aware of the frustration and anger that may be caused because of the decision. However, in order to deliver on its promise of establishing a more professional league, it is the belief of Soccer NSW that the tough decisions had to be made sooner rather than later.

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