BALLARAT Red Devils chairman Duncan Smith says this city only gets one chance at getting it right at competing in National Premier Leagues Victoria - fail and it will take a long time to break back into the state's best ranks, if the city can earn its way back in at all.
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Smith told The Courier on Friday said he was prepared to take a whack by calling an open forum for club members and supporters at Morshead Park on Thursday night via an emotive email.
He was confident the meeting achieved what he intended and that was to get all parties involved on the same page to move the club forward. Just get people talking.
Smith's call came midway through the second NPLV season with the Reds, like a string of their rivals, working through teething issues.
For the Reds, issues come back to strengthening a club environment for seniors and juniors, and restructuring club governance.
"All I want, in a nutshell, is for everybody associated with the club and wants to see it do well to put their hands up, pull together and do something," Smith said.
"...I understand everybody at other clubs if focused on their clubs but they develop their players to be the best they can. We develop our players so they can play at better levels...either everyone is in it or no-one is in it."
The Red Devils' Academy fields six junior teams in NPLV competition and an under-20 team as part of its senior arm.
Smith said the intention was for keep a strong pathway in the sport for all talented Ballarat footballers - juniors cannot remain in the competition without seniors and vice-versa.
An NPLV club also helped, Smith said, in drawing professional teams to Ballarat for practice matches or training camps, like Bahrain's national team ahead of the Asian Cup, which had good flow-on effects for city.
Long-time Reds committee member Stan Burns said there were already positive responses in the wake of the meeting.
Reds senior players had already volunteers to play a more active role with junior team training and match days.
The club had been working with council to install club honour boards and memorabilia to help promote a stronger club feel at its new Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility home base.
Burns said there was still a lot of work ahead to bolster the club financially and in community standing, but good steps were underway.
