Parsons was recently elected to the position and said one of the main focuses for his role will be on engaging the community and encouraging people to pick up a whistle as referee numbers have diminished significantly during previous seasons.

And he wants to help solve the problem.

"We have a desperate shortage of referees within our area," he said.

"As a past player, coach and referee I think I've got a little bit of diversity to offer across all spheres of football, but our main focus will be on the retainment and recruitment of referees," he said.

"That's our number one priority - to get more referees on the park and to get the players and spectators appreciate the value of those referees."

Parsons said for football to continue to grow and take advantage of the A-League's success on a national scale it was important a combined effort was made across the entire country, including the Mid-North Coast.

"Without players, coaches or officials we don't have a game; we're a football family," he said.

"That's the message that I really want to get out in 2016 and that is that we're a collaborative. We're a family be it administration or on the sidelines or in the middle of the pitch.

"Any referees that perhaps have decided not to referee in the past for whatever reason perhaps it's time to come back under a new philosophy.

"We encourage anyone to come back and referee who has been a referee or an ex-player who wants to give back to the game to pull on the black and white and pull a whistle out and give back to the game that we all love so much."

He said the main reasons for the diminished numbers of referees was due to the level of abuse they received from spectators and fans alike.

"There's a number of reasons - and it's not just our sport - it is the level of abuse and the lack of support they get from an early age right through to adults like myself.

"Some people aren't as thick-skinned and nor should they have to be so it's a matter of education and just encouraging less abuse and a better understanding of the vital role they play in our sport and in all sports in general."

The new chairman was excited at the prospect of a fantastic 2016 season despite the kick-off to the season remaining several months away.

"We've got an outstanding administration board ably led by Peter Daniels who has been in the role of general manager for 12 months now," Parsons said.

"We've got a zone referees coordinator in Ossie Bellamy and Larry Budgen is doing a great job as technical director. I think with the great board I have working with me and alongside me, we're looking forward to a cracker 2016."