All member federations this year agreed to work with Football Australia on a national review of administration and governance.

The seventh of FA's 'XI Principles for the future of Australian football' focuses on "a whole of football approach to protecting and enhancing the game through modern, efficient, and effective governance".

Principle VII calls for transition to a One Football governance framework, eliminating duplication of services and increasing efficiency between administrative bodies to in turn lower costs to participants. This push has already led Football Queensland to take over administration of grassroots competitions from its zones after a messy 14-month struggle.

The Herald understands the change in Queensland has caused great concern among the six NNSWF zones which manage grassroots football and have their own employees and assets. NNSWF is responsible for premier competitions, the NNSW NPL, Herald Women's Premier League and Northern League One. However, a seventh zone, Northern Inland, is already run by NNSWF after that group became insolvent this year following the loss of several clubs to rebel competitions.

Newcastle Football chief Russell Henry said the zones and NNSWF had communicated and were examining costs. Henry admitted the situation was "a little tender at the moment".

"We're asking some questions about the move forward, if there's any thoughts of that," Henry said about Queensland's change.

"But there's nothing in writing or on the table, other than what we saw happen in Football Queensland. We were a bit surprised by the way it came out in Queensland but that was their way of doing it."

He said Newcastle, Macquarie and Hunter Valley Football already worked closely to run their almost 100 interdistrict leagues from under 12s to over 35s, as well as their own MiniRoos games, efficiently.

NNSWF chief David Eland said the consultation roadmap would be considered by his board before being presented to the zones.

Eland said NNSWF and Football NSW were in a unique position with their underpinning zones or associations and it added "a level of complexity to NSW".

However, he said "it's certainly not about jumping to any conclusions" after the changes in Queensland.

"It's about a review," he said. "What is at the crux of Principle VII is the way the game is governed in Australia is unique and it doesn't necessarily reflect how it is governed in other parts of the world.

"It's about challenging what is the most effective way of doing it. But Football Australia have gone to great lengths to let people know it's not a cookie-cutter approach. They are and we are genuinely interested in the views of stakeholders.

"We'd certainly like the zones to partner us in that consultation process. Part of Principle VII is about consulting with stakeholders at all levels of the game and that's what we intend to do."

He said there was no deadline for any changes.

"This is a really important project for the game's future and can't be rushed," he said.

The financial fallout from COVID-19 has added to the need for cost-cutting at all levels. NNSWF's losses include the absence of significant funding from FA over the past two years because of the lack of revenue-generating international matches on home soil.

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