TWO separate groups of players are training under the banner of the Ballarat Red Devils in a bizarre preparation to the new National Premier Leagues Victoria season.
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Little more than a month out from the start of the Reds’ 2016 campaign, the club’s on-field make-up remains unclear.
A group of players – based largely in the Melbourne area – is training at Morshead Park under Savas Saglam, who has taken over the position of former coach James Robinson.
Another group – which incorporates most of the squad that played under Robinson last year – is going about its pre-season preparations at the club’s old home at Trekardo Park.
Saglam told The Courier he wanted the club to unite ahead of a tilt at promotion from the NPLV2 competition.
“I’m the senior coach of a club that’s entering an exciting phase and hopefully we can all work as one to make the club successful,” he said.
The group headed by Saglam is getting set for a practice match against Dandenong Thunder at Morshead Park from 3pm on Saturday, while the other players will have their own internal clash.
A possible resolution to the split could come following the much-anticipated special general meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, January 21.
Here, the club is expected to fill vacancies on the board of management, a move which has been strongly advised by Football Federation Victoria.
FFV’s general manager football operations Matthew Annells said in an email to the club seen by The Courier that given the circumstances and that the current board of management consists of only three directors, it was inappropriate for it to make any material decisions in relation to the ongoing management of the club – on-field or off-field – until after this meeting.