In its national competitions review, New Zealand Football outlined where it hopes to take its national leagues over the next 10 years.
Key proposed changes were for all 10 teams to play each other three times in the men's premiership, while expanding the women's league so every team plays each other twice.
The men's league would potentially start in July, play through to March and would include playoffs.
That was the preferred option for its format by the 2018-19 season.
Its aim was to integrate the summer and winter seasons into one, while also providing what it called an adequate number of games.
The change was something Football South CEO Chris Wright was viewing positively, although he said it would also bring some changes and challenges.
Notably, a longer season would also make for increased costs, something Southern United was already battling with.
''We've got to find more funding, anyway,'' Wright said.
''The way to have the fastest impact on Southern United improving its performance is to find more funding.
''So we're faced with that challenge, anyway.
''Moving to three rounds, it's obviously going to increase the costs and if NZF can't find more centralised funding then that cost will likely fall on the clubs.
''So we could be faced with a bit of a challenge.''
Another potential key challenge would be for players who juggle work with football.
However, Wright thought it may just be a case of taking a different mindset to playing national league.
''I guess it's heading towards players having to choose if they're a national league-level player, whether they commit to national league or they play football.
''But in a general sense that's kind of a dire way of looking at it.
''I think it does offer an opportunity for a true pathway and we should celebrate players that have what it takes to be at national league level.
''If Southern United continue into that model, it's something we should be proud of if players have been developed into that model.''
He said the federations would have to adapt to the new model.
Locally it would mean national league players would be missing from a lot of club football, although that did not mean it would be a weaker competition.
''If it's done correctly it should strengthen the whole game.
''On the face of it you go well there's players that are playing national league instead of local football.
''If the development filters down and there's more interest in the game and more players are getting better development as a result of the whole environment being strong and more aligned, then that should benefit football overall.''
Meanwhile, the proposed expansion of the national women's league would have teams play each other twice, rather than once.
Wright said it was something that would help to grow the women's game in the region.
''The staff and the players that were involved in that competition put a lot of effort in for six games.
''And getting more games at that level is a key part of helping to drive the talent prospect of women's development in the region, providing an aspirational pathway and getting young female players involved in that team is key.''
