WARRNAMBOOL and District league will have a bye in its 2017 fixture following Deakin University Sharks’ decision to go into recess.
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Eleven teams will feature in the competition, barring a new committee reversing the Sharks’ decision.
League president Barry Crimmin said the Sharks’ demise was disappointing but not unexpected.
“From what the boys here are saying and what I’ve been told in the weeks previous, I don’t think anyone is coming out of the woodwork,” he said of a potential change-of-heart.
“I think they are pretty resigned to the fact of being in recess.
“They’ve been in the league for 40 years. They’ve been a stalwart really.
“They’re a completely different club to most other clubs because they have a whole new football side every year just about.
“It’s going to be sad. I still remember them playing in Warrnambool institute jumpers. As a league, we’ll just have to see how it unfolds. I mean they’ve still got players and I suppose they will go to other clubs.”
Meanwhile, the league posted a $7163 deficit for the year ending October 31 compared with a $10,410 surplus the previous year, its financial report revealed.
The report, tabled at its annual general meeting on Wednesday, showed finals gate takings were $4000 down from 2015.
Sponsorship income was more than $6000 down but Crimmin said $7000 was outstanding.
There was a $10,000 increase in wage payments. The league outlaid $3000 more in football umpires’ fees, which the league said was a hangover from 2015.
The report also showed a $3400 blowout in the cost of the best and fairest night.