MURRAY United soccer club's previously stated plans to be based at Baranduda Fields could be up in the air after withdrawing three teams including its flagship senior side for 2020.
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Immediately following an announcement of a $10 million funding boost in the lead-up to last year's election to finally kick-start the project, Murray United confirmed Baranduda Fields was its preferred future home with Wodonga Council earlier agreeing to elevate the creation of three soccer pitches and associated amenities at the site.
But, in a major shock, Murray United last week pulled the pin on its senior program due to player shortages at the under-20 and under-18 levels with no guarantees they can be resurrected in 2021.
In April last year, Murray United president Darren Yates said: "As a club we are very proud of our internal team which has continued to fight hard for this funding for our club, our sport and our community.
"We believed this project could become a reality when many others had given up on it.
"Specifically for our sport of football, as a minimum we require a three-field facility including one premium rectangular grass field with grandstand."
Mr Yates was contacted for comment by The Border Mail.
An updated master-plan for Baranduda Fields, including the earlier creation of the three soccer pitches, was ticked off by council in December 2018 after the project was put on hold two years earlier.
Senator McKenzie made the initial funding promise four months later when she was sports minister and the Coalition parties were targeting the federal seat of Indi.
She was accompanied at the announcement by Indi Nationals candidate, former Wodonga mayor and ex-Murray United chairman Mark Byatt among others including fellow Coalition senator Jane Hume and Indi Liberal candidate Steve Martin.
Indi stayed in the hands of Orange independent Helen Haines.
Civil works, power, water and internal roads are earmarked to be created in the initial stages, but construction tenders have not been advertised yet.
The creation of the soccer pitches and associated amenities are estimated to cost almost $8 million with overall price tag to fully complete being more than $120 million.
Wodonga chief executive Mark Dixon said no formal talks about Murray United setting up at Baranduda Fields had taken place.
"Any current funding is not predicated on the situation of any individual clubs or organisations nor is the future of Baranduda Fields," he said.
"In the case of Murray United, there was no requirement for them to notify the council of their season plans.
"Construction tenders have not yet been advertised for the project."
