Weekly Times | CARNGHAM-Linton club president Sam Richardson said fellow Central Highlands league club Clunes played a major role in the Saints resubmitting a proposal to split the league.
On Wednesday night the league’s clubs met to discuss Carngham-Linton’s proposal to split the league’s 18 teams into east and west geographical divisions.
Cargnham-Linton had previously submitted a proposal to split the competition in 2012.
The proposal was not put to an official vote on Wednesday night, but Richardson said there were four clubs, the Saints included, who were in favour.
League administrator Diane Ryan said she has recorded three clubs in favour, 11 against, and five undecided (the figure adds to 19 because the netball league had a representative present).
Richardson said the club believed there would more support for the idea but was happy with Wednesday’s meeting.
“We were pleased that we got a really good hearing and we think that maybe the wheels of motion have started,” Richardson said.
“It might take a little bit longer for something to happen, but we think it was a positive outcome even though it’s not going to happen straight away
Richardson believed there would be a “fair chance” of a split happening if two more clubs joined the league to make two divisions of 10 teams.
Earlier this month Clunes Football Club members voted against pursuing a move into the Maryborough Castlemaine league.
The possibility of one of the Central Highland league’s clubs moving to another competition, Richardson said, was a key reason for the Saints again proposing to split the league.
“We thought rather than lose one of your good clubs is there another option to keep them in a divided league,” Richardson said.
