Adelaide, Southern District cricket clubs strike merger deal after months of secret negotiations
SACA clubs Adelaide and Southern District have reached an agreement to merge after months of secret negotiations.
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South Australian Cricket Association grade clubs Adelaide and Southern District have proposed to merge next season in what would be the first step of cutting the elite Premier Cricket competition from 13 to 10 teams.
After months of secret negotiations between the two clubs following an independent review into SA cricket by former star Australian batsman Mike Hussey, the two clubs – one based at Glandore and the other at Christies Beach – have agreed to combine resources in the hope of becoming a Premier Cricket powerhouse.
The merger, which is being presented to members of both clubs, must still be signed off by members, with special general meetings to be held on February 15.
Under the merger plan, the new club will be called the Adelaide Cricket Club, with elements of Southern District incorporated into the new branding.
Adelaide, founded in 1905, is currently known as the Buffalos and Southern as the Stingrays.
The clubs will initially share facilities at Glandore and Bice ovals and field senior men’s teams in both Premier Cricket and Adelaide Turf to maximise player participation.
The Stingrays currently have women’s teams but the Buffalos don’t, allowing for a combined side to compete in women’s first and second grade.
SACA, which is keen to follow Hussey’s recommendation in his extensive review to trim its competition to a maximum of 10 teams to improve the standard of play and facilities and produce more ready-made first-class players, will provide financial support to help with the merger.
This will include an investment in administration, marketing and cricket development costs over a three-year period.
A club manager and cricket development officer will be appointed to help run the merged club while a cricket Academy will be set up to develop and grow cricket in the Fleurieu region, including establishing the first female cricket Academy in the outer southern suburbs and Fleurieu area.
SACA will work with the new club to secure funding to redevelop Bice Oval’s centre turf wicket square and playing surface and develop a strategic plan which identifies potential sites for new club facilities between Glandore and Christies Beach.
Adelaide, which on Wednesday won SACA’s under-18 Shield competition, has been the home of many SA greats, including current Redbacks and Strikers coach Jason Gillespie, Ken Cunningham, Clarrie Grimmett and George Giffen.
Southern District was founded in 1982-83 and won its only SACA first-grade premiership in 2015-16.
It is coached by former West Indian star Carl Hooper.
Both clubs are viewing their proposed, voluntary merger as a chance to not only remain viable but become a Premier Cricket power.
“Adelaide supports the endeavours of SACA to reduce the number of clubs in Premier Cricket, so we have proactively pursued a merger with Southern District to create a mega club in southern Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula,’’ said Buffalos president Damien Kitto.
“By becoming the State’s club of choice, we will strengthen male and female cricket in SA and deliver many more first-class cricketers.”
Stingrays president Grant Lovelock described the planned merger as “an unprecedented proposal for cricket in the southern region’’.
The clubs will meet at Bice Oval in round nine of Premier Cricket this weekend, with committee members from both clubs available at the ground to speak with members and supporters about the merger.
SACA hopes that if the merger goes through other clubs will follow suit in the next few seasons and it can reduce its competition to 10 teams.
A positive for having 12 next season would be eliminating the bye.
Originally published as Adelaide, Southern District cricket clubs strike merger deal after months of secret negotiations
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