Kyneton players train.
Kyneton has been given the all-clear to field reserves and under-18s football teams in the Bendigo Football Netball League next season.
After a player exodus, the Tigers couldn’t get the numbers together for a senior team in 2013.
But the BFNL board has accepted Kyneton’s proposal to continue with its lower-grade sides to give the club the best chance of rebuilding.
“The Kyneton FNC has gone through a tough wake-up call and started the long journey back to rebuilding their club,” BFNL chairman Paul Byrne said.
“The BFNL board believes that the best chance for this to occur is to allow their reserves to compete, now that they have successfully generated a sustainable playing list for this season.
“This is also important for the other nine BFNL clubs to allow their reserves a game each week.”
The BFNL board is now working with the Tigers and a group of local supporters and businesspeople to form a steering committee.
The committee will aim to build a strategic and business plan to help Kyneton get a full complement of teams – possibly including an A-grade netball team – in 2014.
Kyneton president Cello Matricadi said the club needed the community’s help to survive.
“We realise the position the club is in and how much hard work will be needed, but the commitment shown by the players who have registered with the club for this season is a terrific positive and gives us our best chance of moving forward,” he said.
“We still need the Kyneton community to help, to support the club through 2013 because the club is here as part of the community, not separate from it.
“We cannot do it on our own. The assistance of the steering committee and support from the Kyneton community will be crucial to survive in the long term.”
Kyneton will continue to have netball teams in A-reserve, B-grade, B-reserve and under-18s this season.
Kyneton’s season begins at home against Gisborne on April 6.