THE LEXTON Plains Football League has formally recommended its own disintegration.
In its submission to the VCFL yesterday on the future of district footy in the region, the LPFL board called for the league to be wound up but asked that six of its clubs stay together in an expanded Central Highlands competition.
The submission recommended the VCFL approve Natte-Bealiba's move into the Maryborough Castlemaine District competition and Ararat Eagles' application to join the Mininera league.
LPFL chairman Shane Anwyl admitted it was an unusual step for a league to endorse its own demise. ''It might seem strange because you don't often hear of a league packing up,'' Anwyl said.
''We want to get the point across that we may be seen to be sacrificing the league but the future of individual clubs is more secure geographically with Natte-Bealiba going to the MCDFL and the Eagles joining the Mininera
league.
''The Lexton Plains league could have continued in current format but we see this as better for the future of the clubs. Some people see it as sad to see the competition finishing up but we see it in a positive way for the future
of the clubs.'' The LPFL board, which consists of seven board members elected by delegates plus Anwyl and general manager Rod Ward, hosted a special delegates meeting on Wednesday night.
The league's report accepts most of the VCFL's preliminary recommendations, apart from Navarre's move to the MCDFL.
''The remaining six clubs, including Navarre, want to stay together,'' Anwyl said.
''Navarre has applied to go into the Central Highlands league, and we support that. We think it is a better fit for Navarre and its strong junior set-up. We feel Navarre will be very disadvantaged going to Maryborough and not
being able to field a couple of its junior teams.''
Each of the Lexton Plains, Central Highlands and Maryborough Castlemaine District clubs was invited to make its own submission to the VCFL, in addition to the LPFL and the MCDFL.
The deadline for those submissions is tomorrow.
Anwyl said the clubs had expressed a preference for a two division CHFL competition but acknowledged that would be a decision for the Central Highlands.
''What is important is we want to come across to the Central Highlands in partnership with them, to get a structure that suits everyone. Two divisions is a good opportunity for that,'' he said.
''However if they determine they want a 20-team competition, we would have to work within the boundaries they set down.
''Our main concern is that the reference to a `division two' doesn't sit well with a couple of our clubs. One idea is the LPFL is taken over by the CHFL and the Lexton Plains exists under a different name.
''The promotion and relegation system would still work well because clubs have the option not to go up.
''We now wait until the VCFL comes back with their final recommendation. Most clubs are of the opinion that the changes will happen next year and a lot have already begun planning for that future.''
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