BALLARAT Lady Devils are no more.
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The women’s state league one outfit has reached a mutual agreement with the Ballarat Red Devils to branch away from its namesake and re-brand itself for 2015 and beyond.
The decision to part ways follows hefty increases to Football Federation Victoria player registration costs as part of the introduction of the National Premier Leagues Victoria.
Spokeswoman Laura Brady, who was also a member of the Lady Devils, said the choice was welcomed by both the men’s and women’s factions of the Red Devils.
“They (the Red Devils) recognised themselves that player costs might be a barrier and they had no problems if we wanted to branch out – it’s just the nature of the competition,” Brady said.
“The needs of the female side are different to the needs of the male side, but that’s not to say that the two may not re-align in the future.
“We went with the Red Devils at the start of the year in the belief that there would be our women’s team in the NPLV in 2015, but the FFV has since delayed that decision.
“The belief was that this was the right choice at the right time.”
The cost for a Lady Devil during the 2013 season was $350 for juniors and $450 for players older than 18.
Ballarat’s first year in the NPLV saw the cost of each women’s player increase to $650, which would have risen to $1000 for 2015 had the alignment remained.
Proposed fees for next year are $450 for juniors and $550 for over-18 players.
The new women’s outfit is registered under the Ballarat Sports and Soccer Club and will have ties to the Ballarat District Soccer Association for the first time since 2008, when it was titled the Lady Strikers.
Brady said an official name would be decided next week, with the club to adopt a navy blue outfit in recognition of the Southern Cross flag.
“Our biggest failure this season was participation and whether or not being part of the Red Devils was attractive to outside players,” she said.
“We’ll be under the BDSA banner, but we won’t be allowed to take a player from a club like Forest Rangers and play them for a week.
“We’ll stand alone in terms of player registration (in the senior, reserve and under-16 playing squads).”
Existing members of the Lady Devils started light training last week. The club is welcoming those in and outside of the BDSA to apply for full training, starting in January.
michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au