Teesdale throws in with GCA

TEESDALE last night expressed its desire to stay in the GCA as clubs remain in limbo over the controversial restructure.

Roos officials said a move to the BPCA was the last resort, bucking the trend of rival clubs Little River, Winchelsea and Inverleigh, which have aired a desire to exit the GCA.

Teesdale held a “player driven” meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the club’s future and address the hysteria surrounding the imminent release of the GCA’S new hard-wicket structure.

Vice-president Rhys Campbell said after the meeting the players and officials were “on the same page”, with a “competitive” structure likely to ensure the Roos stay in the GCA.

“A lot of people were concerned that teams were leaving and we’d have no one left to play,” Campbell said of the move to hold a meeting.

“But, more importantly, they weren’t up to speed with where the situation was at and if we’d have to leave or if we’d have teams to play against.

“I said to the boys, ‘how can we say we don’t want to be part of the GCA when we don’t know what’s happening?’ I think it would be foolish to jump at shadows, which is what people are doing.

“I just wanted to talk to our guys because they had read that Little River, Winchelsea and Inverleigh were leaving and to make a reactive decision wasn’t the best way forward.”

Campbell said the players discussed a potential move to the BPCA, but indicated the club would stay.

“It’s talking hypotheticals, but I don’t think we meet their requirements anyway,” he said.

“We’re hoping the GCA can provide a good competition to support the hard-wicket teams that remain.

“We want the highest standard of cricket that we can have. We’re losing teams, so that’s not what’s being provided. They’re trying to make up the numbers with teams in the seconds or thirds but I’m not sure if they will be up to the same level.

“But our goal is to be part of the premier hard-wicket competition and I can’t see why we can’t.”

Teesdale president Mark Tarbett, who was not at the player meeting, agreed a competitive competition would ensure his club stayed.

“The committee is yet to meet to talk about the GCA’s restructure proposals and we’re waiting for news on that,” Tarbett said.

He said a move to revive the old Leigh competition, sparked by Shelford and Meredith, was unlikely to satisfy his club.