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Source: The Mercury
By: BRETT STUBBS
LAUDERDALE is negotiating with the SFL about moving up from the Regional League to the Premier League next season.
Cats president Arthur Johnstone said talks had begun, but the decision would rest with the club's members.
Lauderdale will hold a special meeting on October 2 to outline its plan for joining the top tier before putting the decision to a vote.
``We have been a very competitive junior club and haven't reaped the benefits because of kids' ambitions to play at the highest level where Lauderdale has not been,'' Johnstone said yesterday.
``It is a delicate situation.
``We have been approached and we are holding a meeting on October 2 and that is all I can say at the moment.''
When the SFL split before the 2002 season, Sorell was the second Eastern Shore team in the Premier League.
But because of a lack of community support, the club withdrew from all competition this year, leaving an unwanted bye.
Sorell wants to rejoin the SFL but in the Regional League, leaving seven teams in the Premier League and nine in the Regional.
Lauderdale's promotion would solve the bye dilemma in both competitions.
But SFL general manager Noel Morrison said the Cats, Regional League runners-up for the past two years, would have to prove they could survive in the top tier.
``I am very aware of the Sorell effort two years ago where they were pushed in some ways and it was nearly the end of them,'' Morrison said.
``If Lauderdale, or any club, chose to come up, there will be questions that need to be asked and I wouldn't be confident of accepting anyone unless a lot of those questions were answered.
``If someone comes up, it is no point coming up for only two years. They have got to come up for at least a five year period.
``You won't get success straight away in this level.''
Devils' regular Ian Callinan and squad member Nick Paine plus Mariners' Jarrod Garth and Andrew Lemm all started their junior careers at Lauderdale.
If Lauderdale was promoted, the Premier League requires an under 19s team and an under 17s side, whereas the regional only requires an under 17s side plus the seniors and reserves.
By: BRETT STUBBS
LAUDERDALE is negotiating with the SFL about moving up from the Regional League to the Premier League next season.
Cats president Arthur Johnstone said talks had begun, but the decision would rest with the club's members.
Lauderdale will hold a special meeting on October 2 to outline its plan for joining the top tier before putting the decision to a vote.
``We have been a very competitive junior club and haven't reaped the benefits because of kids' ambitions to play at the highest level where Lauderdale has not been,'' Johnstone said yesterday.
``It is a delicate situation.
``We have been approached and we are holding a meeting on October 2 and that is all I can say at the moment.''
When the SFL split before the 2002 season, Sorell was the second Eastern Shore team in the Premier League.
But because of a lack of community support, the club withdrew from all competition this year, leaving an unwanted bye.
Sorell wants to rejoin the SFL but in the Regional League, leaving seven teams in the Premier League and nine in the Regional.
Lauderdale's promotion would solve the bye dilemma in both competitions.
But SFL general manager Noel Morrison said the Cats, Regional League runners-up for the past two years, would have to prove they could survive in the top tier.
``I am very aware of the Sorell effort two years ago where they were pushed in some ways and it was nearly the end of them,'' Morrison said.
``If Lauderdale, or any club, chose to come up, there will be questions that need to be asked and I wouldn't be confident of accepting anyone unless a lot of those questions were answered.
``If someone comes up, it is no point coming up for only two years. They have got to come up for at least a five year period.
``You won't get success straight away in this level.''
Devils' regular Ian Callinan and squad member Nick Paine plus Mariners' Jarrod Garth and Andrew Lemm all started their junior careers at Lauderdale.
If Lauderdale was promoted, the Premier League requires an under 19s team and an under 17s side, whereas the regional only requires an under 17s side plus the seniors and reserves.
