The premier league will be a one senior grade competition open to all clubs in the zone.

FMNC chairman Mike Parsons said the board has signed off on criteria for the premier league and is in the process of contacting member clubs.

Mr Parsons expects former FMNC premier league clubs Taree Wildcats, Tuncurry-Forster, Camden Haven and Wauchope to apply for a place in the zone competition.

These clubs didn't nominate to play in the Coastal Premier League (CPL).

The CPL is a 10-club, two-grade competition taking in five clubs from Football Mid North Coast and five from North Coast Football which will kick off in 2020.

Mr Parsons is confident up to 10 clubs would nominate for the Zone Premier League with the other places taken by teams currently playing in the zone's southern and northern leagues.

Twelve teams contested the southern league this year with seven sides in the northern league A-grade.

"Anecdotally, there doesn't appear to be any negative comments about the premier league in either the northern or southern sections of our zone,'' Mr Parsons said.

"And I know both Camden Haven and Wauchope have both expressed an interest.''

Port United president Peter Moore said they would apply for a place in the ZPL because "we've got the numbers."

"We had two northern league sides last year with players who would fit into most other teams and do a job," he said.

"So we had a chat with them and a one-team competition will suit us down to the ground."

Wingham Soccer Club president John Bevitt said previously the Warriors would be keen to become involved in the Zone Premier League.

The Warriors won the Southern League grand final last season while Taree president Ben Sedlen said the Wildcats would be applying for a place.

Mr Parsons revealed that the five FMNC clubs involved in the CPL - Wallis Lake, Port United, Port Saints, Macleay Valley and Kempsey Saints, could also nominate to play in the Zone Premier League.

Port Saints, Port United, Kempsey Saints and Macleay Valley are all represented in the Northern League A-grade.

He added the Zone Premier League would also act as a pathway for clubs interested in eventually applying to play in the CPL.

The 10 CPL clubs have all been granted three-year licences.

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