Kilmore in limbo after Riddell District Football League clubs vote against its move to the Northern Football League

UPDATE: RIDDELL District Football League clubs voted against Kilmore’s move to the Northern Football League because they feared it would prove “disastrous” for the Blues’ future.

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KILMORE faces an uncertain future after Riddell District Football League clubs voted against its proposed league switch on Wednesday night.

Blues president David Milne said the club had been unable to re-sign any of its senior players, who are only prepared to commit to the club if they move to the Northern Football League.

Before the vote, Milne declared it was “NFL or die” for the club, whose application has been unanimously supported by NFL clubs.

Milne said he received word on Thursday morning a majority of RDFL clubs had voted against Kilmore’s move, believing the club would be more viable if it stayed put.

“They just said that the clubs showed concern that (Kilmore) would be a hell of a lot more viable in the RDFL,” Milne said.

“Like I said to them last night, if we stay in the RDFL we won’t be playing.”

He said the Blues would only be capable of fielding under-18 football and netball sides if they remained in the RDFL, adding forming a committee would also be difficult.

“We can’t sign any players, nobody wants to commit if we aren’t in the NFL,” he said.

“(They’ve said), ‘we’re not committing until you’re in the NFL because we don’t want to go back to Riddell’.

“This year’s playing group, they will not re-sign.”

Asked if Kilmore could go into recess next year, Milne said: “I think that’s the way it’s heading”.

AFL Goldfields general manager Rod Ward said RDFL clubs feared moving to the NFL would prove “disastrous” for Kilmore.

“We are concerned about the viability of the Kilmore Football Club and understand they are in a precarious position,” Ward said.

“But we think ... they have got a better chance of having a viable future in the RDFL.”

Ward said clubs voted “overwhelmingly” against the switch, but confirmed the verdict was not unanimous.

“We’re going to offer the club enormous assistance and resources in other areas to try and ensure they have a viable future,” he said.

“We want the Kilmore Football Club to survive and represent their community.”

But Milne said the club’s future looked bright if it joined the NFL, with volunteers and players desperate for the switch to be ticked off.

An online petition has been started calling for the RDFL to reverse its decision and support Kilmore’s transfer.

AFL Victoria will have the final say on Kilmore’s switch, with the two leagues at an impasse.

Kilmore will play in NFL Division 3 from 2016 if its application is given the green light.

PREVIOUS REPORT:

KILMORE’S league switch could take a significant step forward tonight when Riddell District Football League clubs vote on the proposal.

The Blues have requested a move to the Northern Football League, which has notified AFL Victoria of Kilmore’s desire to leave the RDFL.

The transition should be seamless if RDFL clubs vote in favour of the Blues’ bid to transfer competitions.

If they choose to vote against the switch, an AFL Victoria appeal will decide which league Kilmore competes in during 2016.

AFL Goldfields general manager Rod Ward said the RDFL board would put its recommendation to club’s at tonight’s meeting.

“(Kilmore) have been advised to do a presentation tonight to outline to the member clubs why they feel they need to leave,” Ward said.

Ward said the Blues cleared all outstanding debts they had with the RDFL in recent days.

“As of today I believe the club has played in full,” he said.

“It’s not unusual for any club to owe the league money.

“We received a cheque two weeks ago and we received a cheque last week ... that will clear the club’s debt.”

He said AFL Goldfields understood Kilmore’s motivation, but had been “disappointed” by a lack of communication.

“But that is now water on the bridge and the most important thing is to go through this process,” he said.

As Local Footy revealed, NFL clubs have unanimously backed Kilmore’s application to join the competition’s third division.

NFL chief executive Peter McDougall said the club would become the league’s furthest outpost if its move is made official.

MORE TO COME.