SUNBURY Football Club has locked itself in to compete in the Ballarat Football League for 2015.
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Having signalled its intention to consider shifting leagues one month ago, the Lions now say they are 100 per cent committed to remaining in the BFL for at least next year.
Sunbury received no feedback from the Riddell District Football League, according to president Phil Lithgow, meaning it has now limited its options to staying in Ballarat or shifting to the Bendigo Football League.
The Eastern Lions had also planned to possibly move back to its former home in the RDFL, but Lithgow said he never heard back from the league since touching base more than one month ago.
The club plans to again meet with the other four eastern bloc teams (Bacchus Marsh, Darley, Melton and Melton South) this week or next and also hopes to involve BFL management in those discussions.
Lithgow said his club still remained genuinely divided as to whether Bendigo or Ballarat would be its future home.
However, since the 2015 season in the Ballarat league was locked away, there was no need to rush on the decision.
“In 2015 we will definitely still be in Ballarat. It would have been a rude exit for us if we left straight away. That’s not what we’re about,” Lithgow said.
“Maybe there is a more creative option for us than what exists at the moment.”
Sunbury is yet to officially meet with the Bendigo league but Lithgow said he hoped the two parties would be able to have discussions soon.
“I tend to believe football is about capturing the imagination of people who come along to watch the games, the supporters,” he said.
“At the moment, it is just about finding out which of those options will best do that.”
A decision is not expected to be made until at least July.
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au