The competition will have five sides from FMNC and five from North Coast Football.

The new league is expected to increase the quality of football in the region and create a higher level of competition for the junior players to aspire to reach.

Rangers president Ashley Williams and Saints president Luke Flanagan both agreed it's a huge step forward for the sport in Kempsey.

"It's great for football in general in the region," Flanagan told the Argus.

"It's another platform of progression for the current senior players and juniors coming through the ranks to pursue."

Williams is looking forward to his players facing fierce opposition on a weekly basis.

"The quality of football played week in week out is going to be much higher. We are going to play against the best sides from up there and down here and that will naturally bring out the best in everyone," Williams said.

Flanagan said the club's attention has already turned to identifying the coaching staff and players who will make up the squad for the 2020 season.

"We will look at our current coaching staff and actively seek additional coaches to make sure we have the best people in place to make a successful and smooth transition into the new league," he said.

"We will be making the current positions vacant and we encourage qualified people to apply.

"We need to have a new level of seriousness moving forward. We have the drive to be one of the top teams in the near future."

The Rangers are in a similar position, as they will look to bolster their coaching staff and squad.

"The first step we will be taking now is building our coaching staff and squad for next season," Williams said.

"We will be looking at new signings, both locally and from out of town, but we will also be giving our younger guys a good chance at proving they deserve to be in the sides.

"We expect to be one of the best sides in the competition next year."

While both clubs admit they will be willing to field new players to the club, their focus will always remain on developing and blooding their juniors.

"We have a really good group of 15s and 16s coming through and they have played a bit of first grade this year," Williams said.

"They have a taste of what it takes to play in the top league here and while it will be another step up next year, we want to see them to continue to improve and put a stamp on a spot in the side."

Flanagan also said Saints' strategy will be developing their young players.

"We hope it encourages players in our club strive to play at the highest level they can," Flanagan said.

"At the end of the day, this league is now in place for the Under-6s to one day strive to be a part of and it creates a chance for them to go onto the next level too."

Port Saints, Port United and Wallis Lake round out the five sides chosen from FMNC.

North Coast Football will announce the five sides approved for the CPL later this month.

FMNC chairman Mike Parsons confirmed the five clubs will receive a three-year license to stay in the CPL.

"In the end we only had five nominations, so in that regard our selection process was made easier,'' Parsons.

However, Mr Parsons assured the applications were reviewed thoroughly to ensure the necessary criteria was met.

"We now have the ideal situation, a 10 club, two grade competition,'' Mr Parsons said.

"We think this is going to lead to a higher standard of football in both zones - and that's not denigrating our local premier league,'' Mr Parsons said.

Mr Parsons admitted he is pleased the process has worked out favourably. He said the general managers from both zones would now work together to determine the structure of the new competition and also look for a major sponsor.

Mr Parsons added Football Mid North Coast will now establish a 10 club, one grade premier league style for the four current FMNC premier league clubs which won't be involved in the CPL - Taree Wildcats, Camden Haven, Wauchope and Tuncurry-Forster.

"This won't be a secondary competition, it will be a pathway to the CPL,'' Mr Parsons assured.

Expressions of interest will be called from clubs currently involved in FMNC's southern and northern leagues. Southern League premiers Wingham have already expressed interest in the competition as have Taree Wildcats.

Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Macleay Argus newsletter here.

Also making the news: