Football Federation Victoria advised clubs on Thursday it would defer the start of the competition for another 12 months.

FFV operations general manager Liam Bentley said the federation was committed to 2016 as the start for the women’s NPL and would have a structure in place by the end of the year, but “refused to be rushed” on the decision.

The Border’s NPL licence holders will now investigate entering teams in the Women’s Victorian Premier League.

Murray United director of women’s soccer Stephen Foden said it may work in the club’s favour.

“There is a meeting next week where we will lobby for entry into the elite Women’s Premier League in 2015,” he said.

“If that happens we can then roll into the competition the following year with two squads that have already had the benefit of playing together.

“A soccer academy for girls in either under-13 or under-15 would hopefully underpin a senior team and under-17s.”

Foden said United was committed to developing women’s soccer.

“Unfortunately, even though we wanted to and were preparing for women’s football in 2015 it has been put on hold by FFV and all states until 2016 so a strategic plan can be put in place to create “the best way” to implement women into NPL,” he said.

“Women’s football is still the fastest growing sport in Australia driven by growth at grass roots.”

Foden believes the talent available on the Border would make the squad highly competitive in the existing Victorian Premier League.

“We are blessed with the talent of female players in our region and are disappointed by this decision,” he said.

“But we would encourage female players and their parents to still come to our info nights this week as it will not only give them a guide to plan 2016, but we can also discuss what is best way forward in preparation.

“We will now have a separate discussion just for women’s football at each night in Wodonga on Monday, Myrtleford Tuesday, Wangaratta Thursday and Cobram on Friday.

“If we do go ahead with plans to play in the state premier league I can’t see why the best women from this region wouldn’t be in the finals, wouldn’t win it.”