The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has been postponed for the umpteenth time. The league, which was expected to start on October 2 is now scheduled to start three weeks later on October 23.

Also, a record 24 clubs, including Bayelsa United, which had been relegated at the end of last season, will be part of the new league format.

In the same vein, Gateway FC of Abeokuta, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and Ranchers Bees of Kaduna who were all also relegated will be part of the enlarged Premier League.

These decisions were reached at a parley held yesterday in Abuja between the Sports Minister,

Isa Bio, the NPL board members, and the club owners.

With this new development, a new draw for the fixtures of the annual competition is expected very soon.

On the issue of the eligibility of Davidson Owumi as NPL chairman, the meeting ruled that Owumi should continue in office even though his challenger, Rumson Baribote was given the leeway to seek redress if he is not satisfied with the decision taken. Baribote had contested against Owumi for the NPL chairmanship and argued that Owumi had been removed as chairman of Ranger International football club before the election and that he was therefore not qualified to contest.

However Austin Popo, the executive secretary of Association of Footballers of Nigeria (APFON) described the latest move as a scratch on the surface. He argued that the more fundamental issue of players' welfare has not been properly addressed.

"What they did was just to scratch the surface. There are far more fundamental things at stake like the vaccum created with the NFF board still not in place and also the welfare of the main actors, the players. If these issues are not addressed, the league will not start even by the new date of October 23." Popo said.