THE controversial end to the National Premier League Victoria season that resulted in Ballarat Red Devils being relegated will be brought up at a meeting between the league and the club next week.
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The McDonald’s Reds were relegated with the last kick of the season when Port Melbourne and Werribee finished 1-1 last month, forcing Ballarat out of the top division.
In a match that went into the 95th minute, Port Melbourne scored against the flow of play in the last seconds of the match, with both sides knowing a draw would be enough to stave off relegation, as Ballarat had already lost.
Had the equalising goal not been scored, Ballarat would have avoided relegation.
Reds chairman Duncan Smith said the conclusion of the other game would be brought into question with NPLV hierarchy next week.
As yet, there has been no suggestion of making any match-fixing or collusion accusations.
Smith said the club had been inundated with queries from members and supporters asking the match at least be looked into.
He said the match started later than scheduled (meaning the result of the simultaneous Ballarat v Oakleigh match would already be known), with the half time break also reportedly extended longer than usual.
“It’s our obligation to ask the question and bring up the circumstances that led to us finishing in the bottom two,” he said.
“We’re not accusing anyone of doing anything they shouldn’t have, but there is a thought among many Red Devils’ members that it needs to at least be brought up. It would be amiss of us not to ask the question.”
Smith stressed the controversial match would be just one topic among many that would be brought up at the post-season meeting with the NPLV, to take place on Tuesday.
An FFV spokesman said there had been no investigation held into the match as there had been no formal inquiry to date.
Meanwhile, the club is also expected to decide on the future of manager James Robinson early next week, who has completed his original one-year contract.
The Reds have had a busy end to the season with the conducting of a review of the football department and the carrying out of player exit meeting and interviews.
“We have already had a couple of meetings with James over the past few of weeks and now that he has basically completed the players reviews, we will be sitting down with him early next week to see what 2015 holds,” Smith said.
“We have made no promises one way or the other right now and will put everything on the table and see what comes of that.”
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
