Embracing new teams

January 13 2009

Shepparton News

Benalla and Kialla will have their applications to join North Eastern Soccer League rubber-stamped tonight when the two prospective clubs are inducted at the league's annual meeting.

But a twist in the league presidential race looks sure to result in some haggling and misunderstandings before tonight's get-together of the league administration and club delegates is finished.

Benalla will return to the league after departing the competition at the end of the 1994 season, while newly formed Kialla is set to receive the goahead on its inaugural year of competition.

While adding two new clubs to its ranks will be a coup for the league, the issue at the heart of its recruiting drive is unlikely to be resolved tonight.

The number of men's division one teams is yet to be confirmed, with Benalla and Kialla's participation in the division crucial to this year's fixture.

League president Frank Trimboli yesterday hinted the entire league would return to a two-meeting home and away fixture next season if eight men's division one clubs were confirmed starters.

If seven men's teams or less enter division one next season the likelihood of a customised fixture to have teams meet three times each will be devised.

"There will be a first general meeting arranged and that's where these issues will be resolved," Trimboli said.

It also means the agerestriction in the junior girls' division, either 14 years old or 15, will remain unset for now.

Trimboli's role as league president looks set to continue after no official challenge under new constitutional rules was lodged by former supremo Vince Ballerini.

Ballerini yesterday said he would not run under the rules of the new constitution as he did not believe it to be valid or in the best interests of the league and its clubs.

"If the clubs go with the new constitution there's nothing I can do about it," Ballerini said yesterday.