UPPER Murray league president Gordon Nicholas has floated the radical idea of promotion and relegation to help ensure the future of the league.
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A chronic player shortage this season has raised questions about the future of the league with Border-Walwa and Federal already withdrawing sides from the reserve grade competition.
Border-Walwa only had 16 registered senior players early last month.
Corryong posted on Facebook last week it was in dire need of more players before the season commences on April 27.
Bullioh is applying for a clearance to the Tallangatta and District league in 2020 and if successful will leave five clubs remaining in the Uppper Murray league.
Nicholas said he was keen to approach the AFL NEB to discuss the radical change of introducing a promotion and relegation system.
"It's time to stop the rot," Nicholas said.
"I don't want to get personal but for example Wodonga Saints have hardly won a game since they moved into town from Bethanga.
"I remember there was a meeting about the move at Scots College when it was first mooted and my advice to them was to stay at Bethanga and go upstream and join the Upper Murray league.
"I was told in no uncertain terms 'if the Upper Murray league still exists in five years, we will look at it then.'
"If you look at it now, it is still the logical place that they should be.
"This might be controversial but in my opinion the best four teams in the Upper Murray would beat the Wodonga Saints.
"A couple of years back it would have been the same with Dederang-Mount Beauty and this year with Beechworth.
"So what I am saying is we need to have a relegation type system or format where the top teams in the Upper Murray could play in the Tallangatta league.
"And the bottom sides in the Tallangatta league could play in the Upper Murray.
"I'm not saying that this is the answer but let's talk about it and get some discussion happening."
Nicholas said football remained the lifeblood of small country towns including the Upper Murray.
Wodonga Saints co-coach, Gerard Midson, has spent the past two seasons as coach of Federal.
He scoffed at suggestions that any side in the Upper Murray would beat Wodonga Saints.
"Our president Dave Hansford went out and watched a game at Bullioh last year and he said to me that Bullioh wouldn't beat the bottom three sides in the Tallangatta league," Midson said.
"Everyone has got an opinion I suppose and it depends on who you talk to.
"I don't think a relegation system is the answer.
"A better system would be a two-tier league where the Upper Murray joins the Tallangatta league.
"Then you have your top eight sides in the top-tier and the rest in the bottom."
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