It's fair to say that there are few people who take the National Youth League as seriously as I do. In fact, I pride myself on being the only regular written source of National Youth League opinion in the world - although, if someone would like to challenge that then that's all the better for the promotion of the NYL!

So, with that in mind and computer in hand, I put together a list of National Youth League 'New Year's Reso-youth-tions' to promote, stabilise and better the competition...

FFA: Stop. Look at the NYL table. Think. Is it really fair or necessary to have the AIS in the NYL? They are disadvantaged by not having overage players and their performance this season shows it.

Fox Sports/ABC/SBS: One of you, PLEASE, cobble together some sort of deal to get the National Youth League on television. Even a 30 minute highlight show would do wonders for promoting the league. Promotion of the league, especially showing it on television, would greatly encourage young players to consider using it as a pathway into professional football, rather than just heading overseas at 16.

Newspapers (like, all of them): Start putting in something short about the NYL every week. Even 'meanwhile, Perth Glory's National Youth League outfit cruised to a 4-0 win over the Newcastle Jets on Saturday afternoon, sending them to second place in the competition' tagged on at the end of the A-League match report would do. That took me about 20 seconds to type. Those 20 seconds, if replicated by every major media outlet covering their local A-League team, could really help to promote the NYL.

Adelaide United: Decent defence? Check. Decent midfield? Check. Decent attack? Check. Goals? Um, not quite. As for the answer to your problems, I have two words - Francesco Monterosso.

Brisbane Roar: Put simply, start again.

Central Coast Mariners: You know how Nigel Boogaard is leaving next year? Forget him. Don't splurge (LOL) for an experienced defender, sign up a NYL player to replace him! Nathan Sherlock or Manny Giannaros would be excellent. Also, give Brady Smith an A-League contract before someone else does - he'd be a much better long-term investment than Nick Mrdja, I guarantee you!

Gold Coast United: Send Miron Bleiberg to watch park football in his spare time. Bleiberg reportedly discovered Golgol Mebrahtu while in a park, waiting to be picked up by Clive Palmer's helicopter. Luck? Maybe. But the thing about the Gold Coast is they're not afraid to take risks, trialling Mebrahtu after this sighting and trialling two ex-Football Superstar contestants. Talk about 'full of unexpected surprises'...

Melbourne Victory: Find a something. I don't know what that something is but it's been missing from this and last season's National Youth League campaigns. I'll get back to you on this one...

Newcastle Jets: Get better youth league scouts. Apart from Scott Balderson and Adrian Karakolevski, the Jets haven't really had any A-League quality youth players. Also, ban the person who Photoshops the player profile pics from doing it. Really.

North Queensland Fury: Next season will be their inaugural season in the NYL and I believe that they have a secret weapon up their sleeve. Using their base in far north Queensland, the NYL would be a fantastic opportunity for them to dip into the large pool of indigenous football talent located there and in other regions in north-eastern Australia.

Perth Glory: Quality over quantity. Six players from last year's National Youth League side (that finished fourth and didn't overly impress) were signed to A-League contracts this season. Maybe it was a money saving strategy to accommodate the two Socceroos under the salary cap but the six players in question (bar Scott Neville and, to an extent, Andrija Jukic) have gotten minimal game time. It would've been more worthwhile to get a few state league players in (i.e. more Tommy Amphletts).

Sydney FC: Whatever the recruiting strategy was for Version 1 of the NYL, do it again this year because it worked last time. Unless, the same strategy was used for this season, in which case don't use it.

Wellington Phoenix: Campaign for a NYL team. We all know it's probably not going to happen until New Zealand become part of the AFC (which, in turn, will probably mean the OFC dissolves but that's another issue), however, with enough pressure from the club - from the owners right down to the fans - the NYL ball may start rolling next year for Phoenix.

So, Happy New Year one and all! Here's to a prosperous and more publicised youth league year!