The Rangers hoped to play an intra-town friendly against the Wolves before the start of their respective seasons but the bid was declined for the second consecutive year.

An application to field a side in the Warrnambool and District Soccer League was also knocked back by the Wolves. Rangers coach Garrett Wyse is finding it difficult to come to terms with the ongoing situation.

"It's really serious and unfortunate for soccer in Warrnambool," he said.

"AC Milan and Inter Milan share a ground and they're professionals - we're just amateurs."

The Rangers are part of the Ballarat and District Soccer Association, which means lengthy travel for games.

Wyse said his club hoped to be represented in the Warrnambool and Ballarat competitions.

"A lot of players are getting more mature, have kids and don't like to travel," he said.

"We'd like to develop Warrnambool soccer but we're just not wanted."

Wolves president Steve McDonald said the Rangers had made its soccer loyalties clear.

He said a tough choice had to be made before the two clubs could operate in harmony.

"If they want to play in our league they can but they have to choose," McDonald said.

"They either support soccer in Warrnambool or Ballarat - you can't play in both.

"At the moment they've made the decision to play elsewhere."

Some Rangers members have been in the Wednesday night competition at Warrnambool's Harris Street Reserve.

However, come Sundays the Rangers are confined to Jones Oval.

McDonald told The Standard he was unaware of an approach for a friendly match.

Meanwhile, the Rangers are set to be genuine contenders for this season's Ballarat and District Soccer Association premiership.

The new-look side smashed Portland 7-0 in its first friendly of the year on Sunday.

Wyse said the Rangers showed promising signs in the practice match and he is confident of improvement after the side failed to make the finals last year.

"Our new goalkeeper went really well - he made 10 good saves," he said. The Rangers used an unfamiliar field set-up with four players in defence, four in the midfield and two centre forwards.

Wyse said the new structure helped the team to a 3-0 lead at the main break and continued domination in the second half.

Joel Kleber was named best for the Rangers.