Nulla forced to withdraw from Premier League

Nulla, who have competed in the Premier League competition since it started two years ago, finished on the bottom of the ladder last season.

Newly appointed Nulla captain Dan Baker conceded the team would be unable to field a competitive side and were left with no alternative.

"We had a lack of numbers and quality players in the team," Baker told the Argus.

"It's not ideal but you can't force people to play. It is what it is."

Baker said the team will use this season to rebuild and they plan to return to the Mid North Coast competition next year.

"The plan is to use the local first grade competition as a building block for the juniors and hopefully we will be back next season," he said.

"A couple of guys will go back to first grade, a couple have suggested they will play in the Premier League with other teams but I am not sure."

The club informed MNC Council president David Burley of their decision this week. This means seven sides will now contest the premier league, two down on last summer. Macquarie Hotel from Port Macquarie didn't nominate for this season.

Mr Burley said it is disappointing to lose another club.

"But I never thought we'd get two clubs out of Kempsey,'' he added.

"And Nulla struggled last season - they only won a couple of games. We'll still have a strong seven team competition.''

Rovers will be the only Kempsey side to compete in the Premier League this season.

He understands Nulla's lost a few players from the 2018/19 roster and haven't been able to find suitable replacements.

Mr Burley said Nulla's withdrawal won't make any difference to the makeup of the draw.

"The side that was to have played Nulla will now get a bye, that's all,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Burley revealed that a bid from Gloucester to join the premier league was rejected. Instead Gloucester has entered a side in the Manning B-grade competition.

Mr Burley said there were concerns whether Gloucester would have been competitive in the premier league.

"It would be a big jump from their competition to the premier league,'' he said.

"We thought it would be better if they entered a side in Manning B-grade.

Mr Burley said there were also worries about the added travel involved by admitting a team from Gloucester.

However, he said the door hasn't been shut on Gloucester eventually being part of the premier league and the side's performances in B-grade would be monitored.

The premier league will start on Saturday October 12. United will host Rovers at Chatham Park while Taree West will be at home to Wauchope at the Johnny Martin Oval. Port Pirates clash with Port Magpies at Wayne Richards Park in Port Macquarie while Wingham has the bye. Twenty one rounds will be played in the season-proper with the semi-finals to start on March 21. The grand final is set down for March 28 while April 4 will be the reserve day for the grand final if wet weather intervenes.

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