Clarence United and Hobart Zebras members vote to merge

Clarence United and Hobart Zebras members have gathered to vote on whether the two clubs should merge.

Hobart Zebras and Clarence will merge into one club, to be known as the Clarence Zebras, from next season. Picture: PATRICK GEE

THE Clarence Zebras will be the newest team in Tasmanian football as of 2020 following the decision by the Hobart Zebras and Clarence United to unify the two clubs.

The outcome is a result of independent general meetings which took place tonight that saw members from each club voting in favour of the amalgamation.

Hobart Zebras president Nick Di Giovanni is excited by the unanimous decision.

“I’m just thankful that [the Hobart Zebras] got the great support of the committee and the life members especially and the members that can see the future and the viability of the club. I’m just over the moon that the positive thoughts outweigh the negative thoughts that are out there on social media,” Di Giovanni said.

“Give us two or three years, it’ll be a big club. A big successful club, that’s what we want. Something successful starting from scratch.”

Clarence had a similar result, achieving a majority with three of the 31 eligible votes being against the amalgamation and the remaining 28 in support.

“As far as Clarence are concerned, thanks to all of the members that turned up and voted, in my mind, the correct way and [I want to] thank them all for what has been a really tough two or three years,” said Clarence president Ronnie Bolton.

Bolton, having previously expressed concerns for the position Clarence is in both on and off the field, shares the excitement expressed by Di Giovanni. However both men feel there is still plenty of work to be done.

“The two committees will meet pretty quickly to get a few things running,” said Bolton. “From here on in it’s hard work but it’s going to joyful work.”

The Clarence Zebras will be based at Wentworth Park on the Eastern Shore and are expected to play in the WSL and a new-look eight-team NPL competition next year according to a meeting held by Football Tasmania prior to the vote.