Heywood president Michael Bell told The Standard last night that the Lions would be writing to the VCFL to seek permission to join the neighbouring South West District Football Netball League (SWDFNL) in 2012.

“The long term future of the football club was why we are looking for a change,” Bell said. “The long term future in Western Border didn’t look viable for us.”

Heywood, which has won nine games in almost four seasons, has not fielded a reserves side or senior netball team this year because of a lack of numbers.

Last night’s decision could have wide-reaching effects on football in the region, opening up the possibility that other Victorian Western Border league clubs may assess their future in the cross-state competition.

Following a meeting on Tuesday which was attended by more than 100 financial members, Heywood’s committee met last night to decide the club’s future.

Western Border officials were invited, although Bell said they did not attend because WBFL president Jim May was on leave and chief executive officer David Heard was unavailable.

“The league had indicated that they didn’t support Heywood leaving the Western Border league but now the official process will be taking place, I think there will probably be some responses from them in the next few days,” Bell said.

The president said Heywood had chose the SWDFNL because it was a local league.

“We would struggle to recruit players from Warrnambool, for instance,” he said.

“We want to support local players playing in a local league.”

Bell said that 20 of last season’s Lions players had crossed to the South West District league this year.

Bell described Tuesday night’s meeting as a reality check.

“We needed to look at another way to make the club sustainable,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for the club to start planning for the 2012 season in the district league and we will hopefully be using that decision to start recruiting players.”

Western Border league president Jim May was unaware of Heywood’s decision until told by The Standard late last night.

May said he and league chief executive officer David Heard received invitations on Wednesday afternoon to attend the meeting but they both had other commitments.

“We would like them to stay,” May said.

“There is a process that has to be followed. They have to apply to leave … to the league and then the VCFL.”

May said the league executive would meet to discuss the matter soon.

South West District league president Kevin Farley declined to comment.