THE show goes on in the Warrnambool and District Football Netball League.
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But for the first time in the league’s 72-year history, it is without an independent executive after the board voted to hand the reins to AFL Western District last week.
Just why the board elected to hand over governance is unclear. The reasons behind the decision have not yet been publicly released.
Warrnambool and District league deputy chairman Sara Quinn said the matter was still under wraps while the details of the handover were explored.
She said the executive was still yet to confirm if the league’s current constitution allowed it to hand governance to AFL Western District.
“We’re still in the what happens, and what it means (stage), and if we can actually do (the handover) according to our constitution,” Quinn said.
“It’s still under wraps at the moment. Watch this space is my generalised answer.”
Discussions are ongoing, with both AFL Western District and the clubs confident an outcome over the future governance of the league will be reached shortly.
An AFL Western District statement, issued on Thursday night, revealed that talks had taken place between both clubs and the commission on Wednesday night.
The WDFNL board’s decision to give up control came after president Ken McSween a fortnight ago was asked to step down over an alleged breach of by-laws and constitution.
Former Warrnambool and District league president Barry Crimmin, who stepped down late last year, said his decision was based on concerns league boards had been superseded with a new governance structure that allowed clubs to appeal decisions to the AFL.
”I feel boards are redundant – they’re basically glorified finals organisers,” he said.
“I think leagues basically have two avenues to choose from. Break away and run your own competition, or eventually handing control to the AFL. I could see the writing on the wall that the role of the executive just becomes redundant.”
But AFL Victoria said boards were vital to country football and that leagues and region commissions had a key role in working together.
“(We) believe league boards are important as they have several key responsibilities to contribute to community football,” it said.
“These include, but are not limited to, providing advice around strategic decisions, managing its constitution and overseeing their competition.”