Weekly Times | GLENROWAN president Jason McPhail says clubs should be open to discussing merging if it offers the opportunity for long-term success.
The Ovens and King Football League’s dual reigning premier is third on the ladder but was a wooden spooner as recently as 2012.
“Our club’s position on mergers is that in the next five years we think it’s something a lot clubs will have to deal with,” McPhail said.
“We are not actively trying to merge, but we are open to discussions.
“It’s not going to happen next season, but I tell you what, if it could work well and I can see that it’s going to make our club be around in 10 to 15 years, bloody oath we’ll have a look at it.
“All clubs should.”
He said he believed the stress on clubs and volunteers to stay at the peak of their competitions could see even successful clubs fail.
“It shouldn’t matter if you’re at the top or the bottom of the ladder,” McPhail said.
“Any particular club at any stage can be on their knees, no club is invulnerable.
“You don’t have to sell the farm, but that doesn’t mean you can’t talk about it.
“See if it’s right for you or not right for you.”
North Wangaratta sits on the bottom of the Ovens and King league ladder after a dire season but club president Tim Hogan brushed off the idea of a merger with any club.
“We are pretty adamant on standing alone ... we don’t want to merge with anyone” Hogan said.
“It’s been a tough season but we’ve worked through it and we haven’t had to forfeit a game.
“We’ll be right in the long run.
“The rumour around the town was that we might fold, but that was never the case.
“We are in it until the end, we definitely won’t fold.”
North Wangaratta has suffered setback after setback in a calamitous 2016 campaign.
After losing their coach and a number of senior players in late April, the Hawks were told they would no longer be able to play games at their home ground due to lead contamination at the reserve.
Hogan confirmed on Monday the club was no closer to returning to its ground with one home-and-away game remaining this season.
The situation with the ground was expected to be discussed at a council meeting earlier this week.
“We’re in the process of trying to lock down a home ground for either nine games (next season) or two home grounds split into four and five games,” Hogan said.
“It’s a bit of relief that the season is almost over, but we’ll work hard over the off-season to build this club towards 2017 and beyond.
“The morale from the guys who have stuck around to play and everyone that has helped out is unquestionable.
“The positive attitude is still there and we’re looking forward to next year.”