EFNL 2021: Fairpark hopeful of retaining premiership star following attempted move

Fairpark says it’s hopeful it can retain one of its biggest names after a request to join a rival competition was denied on Monday. LATEST HERE.

Gough in action in the 2019 Division 4 grand final. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

Eastern Division 3 outfit Fairpark says it’s hopeful it can retain one of its biggest names following an attempted move to a rival competition.

Premiership star James Gough lodged a transfer to join the Geelong District league’s Werribee Centrals on March 11.

But the request was denied by Fairpark on Monday, as he had previously committed to the club for this season.

The full forward has been a key to the Lions’ rise in recent years after landing at the club in 2018 where he’s booted 81 goals from 35 matches, playing a starring role in the 2019 drought-breaking Division 4 flag.

Gough snaps the sealer in the 2019 Division 4 grand final. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

He previously made his name as a century goalkicker with Southern league club Mount Waverley, kicking the ton in 2016 on the way to a premiership.

Werribee Centrals coach Nick Smith, who coached Gough at Mount Waverley, told the Geelong Advertiser the spearhead had been planning a move to Geelong and was currently “travelling from Belgrave to train with us.”

Fairpark coach Sean Stanton said his club would aim to work through the situation with Gough in a bid to retain its much-loved player.

“Goughy’s been a wonderful person for the Fairpark Football Club, and we’re aware his circumstances have changed,” Stanton said.

“We’re going to catch up with ‘Goughy’ next week to have a chat and see what there is we can do to hopefully work things through.

“We’d love nothing more than for him to play for us this season, he’s a wonderful guy and we’ll meet with him next week and see where we land.”

Smith said on Tuesday Gough had played in the past two practice matches with the Centrals and the club was “pretty confident he’ll come but at the moment we’re just going to reapply (for a clearance).”

A second transfer request is yet to be lodged at the time of writing.

Fairpark is preparing to take on a new division for the first time since 1996, and Stanton said his club would need to plan accordingly for either scenario should Gough remain a Lion or depart.

“He’s been a great servant for our club over the last few years … he’s a terrific talent and hopefully we can retain him and if not, then we’ll have to plan without him, I guess.”