Uncertainty means it is hard for Panthers president Dave Hotham to get excited about Western Premiership

Next season Bathurst Panthers are set to join not only their Group 10 rivals, but Group 11 outfits in a new Western Premiership.

However, details about how that new competition will be structured are few and clubs are still waiting on a draft draw to get some more clarity about their 2002 campaigns.

That uncertainty was one of the main factors in Hotham's decision to return as president for another year.

"It is going to be a different season, we are sort of still wondering how everything is going to work, that's another reason I didn't want to leave it and have somebody else take over and guide us through it," he said.

"It's hard to get excited about it at the moment because there is so much uncertainty with it."

One of Hotham's big concerns about the Western Premiership is that the extra travel and pressure to compete, especially on smaller clubs, could lead to them opting out.

He thinks the real focus should be on player development and retention.

"I think in concept it's a good idea, but to me, speaking for myself, I think they should place more of emphasis on bringing juniors up and making the comps that we're in stronger rather than moving us somewhere else as eventually teams will drop out," he said.

"Then, and I've said this before, if we do ever come back and we're just Group 10, it could be a very ordinary comp we have here. I really do think we need to concentrating on the grass roots and bringing juniors through."

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In the main Hotham is eager to see what 2022 brings for the Panthers after this year's Group 10 premierships were abandoned before the finals series could be played due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

He also said that Panthers are considering fielding a side in the pre-season under 21s Western competition.

"I'm just glad with the double vaccinations now we can get back to a bit of normality, start playing sport and get some supporters back there," he said.

"We've got a good clubman in Ben Gunn, he's keen on trying to push the 21s.

"So we're going to see what the numbers are, we've got the jumpers and the gear for them, that's not the problem, it's just if it's worth doing it, for the six or seven games if we have the players to be able to do that."

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