BALLARAT will be part of a new era in Victorian soccer after confirmation of its place in the new National Premier Leagues competition.
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Football Federation Victoria yesterday announced the Red Devils as one of 30 clubs to be offered a licence in the state’s top league, which will begin this season.
Ballarat’s place in the NPL follows the key appointments of former Australian goalkeeper Danny Milosevic as football director, A-League championship winner James Robinson as playing manager and Darrin Carroll
as business manager.
Yesterday’s news was music to the ears of Reds chairman Duncan Smith, who has worked hard to bring the club’s vision to
fruition.
“We were always confident – confident we had met the criteria and in fact exceeded the criteria.
“We very confident we would get a place in the NPL but we couldn’t count our chickens until they had hatched and now they have,” Smith told The Courier.
“We took a punt and got the people we wanted to be involved and we are confident we are going to put a competitive unit out on the pitch and be very well supported off the pitch.”
Smith said the new Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility had been a linchpin in the successful application.
“I’m pretty confident that without the stadium we wouldn’t be in this position.
“It’s got to be hats off to the city council for having the foresight to build the stadium in the first place,” he said.
To complete formalities, Ballarat will be required to confirm its participation in the league by returning a signed licence agreement to FFV by 5pm on Wednesday, February 19.
tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au