BATHURST club City Colts have come in for some harsh criticism from Western Premier League president Jim Auld after the region’s premier football competition held its annual general meeting in Dubbo on Sunday.
Expecting bumper nominations for the 2012 season, Auld was left scratching his head when the competition received just the one additional nomination on top of the five sides that contested last year’s premiership.
Orange based club Barnstoneworth will join Orange Waratahs, Dubbo FC, Westside Panthers, Orana Spurs and Lithgow Workies in this season’s WPL competition.
Bathurst hasn’t fielded a team in the competition since the Mark Comerford-led Bathurst ‘75 outfit in 2008.
And in the aftermath of the meeting, Auld isn’t happy.
He expected a minimum of two extra sides to signal their intentions to play next season at Sunday’s meeting.
“It was a bit disappointing,” a frustrated Auld said.
“Both Canobolas Rangers and CYMS won’t be back but Barnstoneworth will be joining the competition.
“Bathurst City Colts were thinking of joining but now have 48 hours to let me know. They didn’t even bother to turn up to the meeting. It’s disappointing a city the size of Bathurst can’t find enough players to field a side.”
Currently, the next step up from local first grade men’s soccer in Bathurst sees Bathurst ‘75 Panthers FC fielding first grade and reserve grade teams in the State League division two competition, while Colts themselves have a number of teams in local competitions.
Auld was expecting heavy interest from the Lachlan region as well.
But that, too, fell through.
“I got no reply from my emails and no one bothered to turn up at all,” he said.
“I would have thought it would have been a matter of courtesy to reply to just let me know their intentions. It would have been nice to have a side from the Lachlan region. Parkes, Forbes, Young, even Cowra.
“Cowra has been in the competition in the past and they’re an extremely strong side.”
Auld left the door open for a side from Mudgee to join the competition, too.
He believes while the first couple of years would be tough for any new club wanting to join the WPL, all any side needs to do is look at Lithgow Workies.
“They struggled, but now they’ve done extremely well,” Auld said.
“They’ve won under 18s titles in 2010 and 2011 and the first and reserves have made the semis.”
Auld said a draw for the WPL competition will be released in the coming weeks, with Barnstoneworth to inform WPL officials on how many sides they’ll field in 2012 today.
Auld said if the new Orange club couldn’t field sides in all three grades, the competition would work towards filling the gaps in the draw with other teams.
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