Tallangatta league president Rex Gray acknowledges the salary cap discrepancy between the Tallangatta and Hume leagues is an issue that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible.
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Both the Tallangatta and Hume leagues recently announced their salary cap reductions for this season.
The Tallangatta league was cut from $80,000 to $65,000 while the Hume league was reduced to $80,000 from $95,000.
Barnawartha coach Peter Cook recently told The Border Mail that the $15,000 discrepancy between the two leagues would be to the detriment of the Tallangatta league.
Hume league president Brendan I'Anson agreed both leagues should be on a level playing field.
But I'Anson felt a cap of $65,000 was too low for cashed-up Hume league clubs who could be tempted to rort the cap if the figure was that low.
Gray said the two leagues being governed by different bodies was one of the biggest stumbling blocks in regards to salary cap parity.
"It's a pity, we would like it to be closer," Gray said.
"But a couple of years ago NSW didn't even have a salary cap.
"So it's a work in progress.
"As league president, I have the short-term goal of working towards the two leagues being on a level playing field.
"Just for the good of football in general.
"The two competitions are of a similar standard and therefore should have a similar salary cap in my opinion.
"There always has been a salary cap discrepancy.
"But at the end of the day there are players who want to chase the big dollars and they will switch clubs - that will always happen when there is money involved."
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Gray said he had been contacted by several officials from Tallangatta league clubs expressing their concerns about the salary cap.
"My argument is that you can only play with the cards that you have been dealt," he said.
"When the salary cap was first introduced, $80,000 was the figure the majority of clubs said would be a realistic budget.
"Now that has been dropped to $65,000 to help ease the financial burden on clubs which could find it tougher to raise funds in a COVID-19 environment.
"As much as everybody wants the best of everything, the reality is that a lot of times you just can't have it.
"Last year before the season was scrapped, all of our clubs were in a sound position financially which is the main thing.
