That success has seen Football Mid North Coast and Football North Coast look to expansion, despite interruptions to both seasons due to COVID.

Ten clubs covering both zones originally gained three-year licences in 2019 which would start for the competition's inaugural season in 2020.

Following the 2020 season, all clubs had a discussion in December with both zones (NCF and FMNC) where the idea of expansion was put forward.

In July, FMNC again advised all Coastal Premier League clubs of its intention to expand in 2022 which was met with no reaction or dissent.

Earlier this month, Southern United, based in the Great Lakes area, were chosen as the expansion side for Football Mid North Coast, beating out Camden Haven Redbacks for a license.

It's likely Bellingen will be the selection for Football North Coast.

FMNC chairman Mike Parsons remains confident the increase from 10 teams to 12 for the 2022 season should be embraced, not challenged.

"I would hope rather than being seen as a negative that it's seen as a massive positive and we embrace this and look forward to season 2022 with even greater competition," he told the Port News.

Taree Wildcats stated they did not believe more teams should have been added to the competition citing the length of the season and a lack of support from existing clubs as the main reasons in a social media post on September 15.

Mr Parsons rejected those claims, saying all clubs were made aware of expansion through both zones and the Wildcats were the only club who voiced their concerns, which were taken on board.

"There were numerous discussions held about (expansion) and it was no secret, it was certainly very public about the intention right from the beginning," he said.

"The conversation started back in December and I find it interesting the pushback has only commenced after we made the announcement of Southern United.

"While I respect Taree Wildcats' right to have an opinion and be vocal about it I am a little bit disappointed."

Now various clubs have joined the party in voicing their concerns about expansion.

Boambee Bombers said retention and recruitment will be a major concern.

"Boambee is also concerned about the CPL becoming a 12 team competition," the club stated in a Facebook post.

"Additional to the concerns mentioned by Taree is the population in the Northern Zone being far less than the Southern zone.

"A small club like ours will struggle to remain in the competition if an additional club is added within close proximity. Our player recruitment area is minimal now and could be massively reduced again.

"We have currently completed the second year of a 3 year contract and typically we have been dictated to by CPL."

Kempsey Saints president Luke Flanagan said there were positives and negatives to the decision.

"It's concerning - the impact it'll have on volunteers, the length of the season on players and we're still a community based top level competition," he explained.

"It seems like they're asking for more commitment and making it harder for volunteers and players.

"It's good they've tried to bring the Forster area in.

"They've got quality and are always good to play, they're good games.

"It's welcome news to have that extra quality brought in but the disappointing thing with an extra four weeks of games is it's an extra burden on players and volunteers.

"It affects other sports, a lot of our players excel at everything they do, they play cricket and football, it starts to overlap into both seasons... some players might not be able to commit to the whole season."

Mr Parsons said the 2022 season would only be one week longer than the 2021 campaign which had two free weekends included in the full season schedule.

"We did have two bye rounds scheduled this year and we're more than confident even if we start the competition a week earlier and have one bye round, the season will only extend to the same length that it would have done this year," Mr Parsons said to the Port News.

Macleay Valley Rangers were contacted for comment.

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