The Sovereigns have been unsuccessful in its bid to renew its operating licence in the Victorian Netball League.
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The club was informed by Netball Victoria on Wednesday that its application for a licence renewal was not successful.
Sovereigns president Bill Mundy voiced his disappointment in the decision, saying a critical pathway to higher levels of netball for young women in the western region of Victoria had been lost.
“The decision by Netball Victoria to reject the club’s application for a licence was a blow to all the young women in the western districts of Victoria who have either the talent or the ambition to play at the highest level of the game, we are extremely disappointed and even more disappointed for the young women in the region,” Mundy said.
“The decision to remove the club from the competition removes yet another elite pathway from the sporting community for the region and forces young women with talent and ambition to travel further, incur more expense or move further from family and friends to realise their dreams”
Sovereigns did not win a championship division match this season, off the back of only winning three, two and one match in the previous three seasons since its inclusion into the VNL in 2015 – Ballarat Pride previously occupying a position.
Sovereigns’ division one team had played finals the past two season, but that was yet to translate into the top division.
The new licence grants successful applicants five years in the competition, 2019-2023.
Netball Victoria told The Courier in August that its five key criteria for securing a licence surrounded governance, recruitment and development, daily training environment, alignment with Netball Victoria’s goals and finance.
The Courier is seeking further information from Netball Victoria about Wednesday’s decision.