Northern Championship winners Launceston United and runners-up Devonport have already expressed intentions to join the statewide competition with Football Tasmania chief executive Matt Bulkeley admitting it could have a totally new look in 2021.

"I don't want to pre-empt what it will look like but all clubs have to meet criteria which we have not had before so it is a change for everybody," he said.

With the criteria set to establish a framework for aspects such as facilities, accreditation and pathways, FT competition manager Glen McNeill said the current make-up of five Southern teams plus Ulverstone may change.

"It could be a very different WSL," he said.

"It's been six teams for a couple of years and before that, eight. We would like to get towards that eight from a competition stand point plus that helps with alignment to the NPL.

"But it's not just because we like that number, we have to go through the process.

"When we first got the WSL up we did not have any criteria because we just wanted to get the competition going but now it's established we want to improve the standards. Hopefully long-term it will become a women's NPL and this is the first step towards that.

"We're starting with a clean slate so clubs interested in being in the competition have to satisfy the criteria and go through an application process that is very thorough."

The state body is keen to see a Launceston presence in the league and, having romped to the Northern Championship title undefeated, United have put up their hand.

"We've done a lot of work for the female game and with such a strong junior base think it would be a good fit," United's president Tony Pearce told The Examiner earlier this month.

"The female game in Launceston is suffering and we want to put a good team on the park to represent not just our club but the Launceston area."

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McNeill welcomed the approach.

"It works for the competition," he said.

"A city the size of Launceston deserves a WSL team and in Launceston City's days around the late '90s and early 2000s it was a very competitive side that won a bunch of trophies."

A Launceston team in the WSL was among recommendations arising from last year's competition review and Bulkeley also felt it was necessary for the competition's stability.

"It makes sense that there's a team in Launceston for aspiring female players in that region to not have to leave.

"We just could not make it work but now we've released criteria encouraging every club to put forward.

"I think it would be a good outcome for Launceston United and other teams if they think they can meet the criteria. That will be the starting point, rather than geographical location."

Substantial investment including a new clubhouse at Birch Avenue have put United in a position to capitalise on the success of Cameron Heazlewood's dynamic team.

"From a facilities point of view, the club is reasonably well positioned," Bulkeley said.

"Clearly there would be elements that need to be improved and we are working with the club on that.

"I dare say there will be some gaps but the way the criteria tends to work leads to a phasing in of facilities."

Since City withdrew from the competition in 2018, Ulverstone have been the sole Northern representatives, leaving the Ulverstone Showgrounds club with a huge travel schedule.

Along with United and City, cross-town rivals Northern Rangers and Riverside also have healthy female numbers and NC titles while Devonport have made no secret about a desire to join the WSL.

A composite team made up of the best players from the Launceston clubs has even been discussed.

Bulkeley also responded to criticism of a proposed reserves competition for the men's statewide league.

Stuart McCarron, president of NPL Tasmania newcomers Riverside, has expressed concern that statewide reserves, and subsequent under-18, competitions would devalue the Northern Championship regional leagues.

"My belief is it will kill the Northern Championship as a competitive competition because the championship teams from us, City and Devonport will be our third teams and that will devalue the whole league," McCarron said earlier this month.

Bulkeley said the statewide reserves was another recommendation from FT's competition review and could be introduced as early as 2022.

"We're committed to all outcomes of the competition review and are working with clubs on those," he said.

"The recommendation was endorsed by the board subject to further engagement with clubs but we believe it is the best model.

"We've had some discussions on that with more to occur. Nobody underestimates that there are some things to address."

Asked if he felt it could have a detrimental impact on regional competitions, Bulkeley added: "I can understand that point of view but the review was for all competitions.

"There will need to be more discussions about how it works best and what it means for existing competition structures. That all needs to be worked through."