The wind-up of the North Albury Sports Club has accelerated with members voting to sell-off poker machines to eliminate debts before facilities are handed back to Albury Council and deals struck with sporting bodies for ongoing use.
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The sports club board had already commenced negotiations to sell 15 poker machines, but needed member approval to offload the remaining 12 on its books.
The sports club building, changerooms and football, netball, cricket and bowls facilities are owned by the council, but were leased to the sports club with each sporting body having a sub-agreement to play at Bunton Park.
Sporting bodies will meet on Tuesday to discuss future operating hours.
The club has been under financial stress for many years and almost folded in 2014 when debts mounted to $850,000 before members pledges, in part, kept the doors open.
A bid to merge with another club last year was unsuccessful with poker machine sales to other licensed clubs anticipated to clear debts of around $200,000 made up largely of a $90,000 bank debt and $50,000 in staff entitlements.
Chris Chamberlain, the administrator appointed to keep the club afloat six years ago, maybe required again to complete the final stages of the sports club wind-up which will include another extraordinary meeting.
Sports club chairman Dean Luhrs said its situation had become inevitable.
"Looking back over the club's history every couple of years the board has kept selling banks of poker machines to pay off debts," he said.
"We are not alone, 14 clubs last year either amalgamated or closed.
"Gaming is declining because the next generation are online gamblers.
"It also means the value on the licence on the machine is declining.
"The club doors are only open now due to the countless hours of voluntary time."
TAB and Keno facilities will also go.
Albury councillor David Thurley was an interested onlooker at the meeting.
North Albury Football-Netball Club president Tony Burns said sports club directors should be commended for their "against the odds" efforts.
"I want to reassure all our football-netball members, supporters, and sponsors, that this will not affect the operation of the football club," he said..
"We have been in discussion with council in regards to our options.
"The master-plan for Bunton Park is still moving forward and we don't expect the sports club closure to have any impact on it."
