Reaper has spoken strongly about the current situation at the club, with board uncertainty and financial issues rife just weeks out from its annual general meeting.

He said North Ballarat had committed to its place in the VFL for 2017 three times prior to Christmas and hoped its position will remain when the new board is confirmed on February 21.

“That was forthcoming on each occasion and it's our expectation that going forward they do play in 2017,” Reaper told The Courier.

“And depending on what happens at their AGM in the coming weeks, if for whatever reason the decision is made that they won't compete in 2017, the reality is that it's highly unlikely that we would entertain a Roosters team in the VFL into the future.

“From our point of view, for the integrity of the competition and the other competing clubs that are in it, it's important that they do step up to the plate in 2017 and honour that commitment.”

Reaper said there is a home in the VFL for North Ballarat – which is no longer aligned to an AFL club – now and into the future.

“We said to all of our VFL clubs, if they've got a sustainable model that can compete off-field and on-field, there's always a place for them to be apart of the VFL,” he said.

“So their (the Roosters) future really sits in their hands at the moment to make that call on where they want to be in 10 years time.

“If they go down the track of pulling out now, well that could be it forever. But if they go down the track of committing to having a VFL presence, well we think that they can get a sustainable model off-field and have a clear focus in regards to factional divisions on the board.

“And if the community gets behind it, there's certainly a place for North Ballarat in the competition into the future.”

When asked if he thinks the Roosters will line up for their round one fixture against Richmond on April 16, Reaper said: “That's what we are anticipating.”

“If that changes – I think I’ve eluded to that pretty strongly - that we would be extremely disappointed and it would leave a lot of players, administrators and staff with nowhere to go.”

Reaper, who is clearly frustrated by the recent happenings at North Ballarat, said the facility being built at Eureka Stadium warrants a high standard of football regularly being played at the venue.

Reaper is also concerned by the board’s decision to block the ratification of a large number of new members – some of which were set to stand in a board election – on a “technicality”. This led to former chairman Peter Wilson withdrawing his interest in a return to the position and H.Troon pulling its agreement to be major sponsor of the club.

“That AGM can’t come soon enough for them to ultimately fill those positions that are required,” Reaper said.

There will not be any election for the football and sports club boards at North Ballarat due to the number of nominations not exceeding the amount of positions available.

The February 21 AGM will begin at 7pm.