Best of ‘three’ keen to stay
BANNOCKBURN will vote for a return to GCA3 next season in what would be a backflip for the association if approved.
The Bulls were in GCA3 last summer, which featured a mix of turf and hard wicket clubs, before the association restructured the competition, booting the six hardwicket sides out of the third division.
Three of those clubs elected to defect to the BPCA, while Bannockburn, Teesdale and Lethbridge have been too strong playing against third XI teams in the synthetic grades.
While Teesdale and Lethbridge will explore a move to the BPCA, Bannockburn president Martyn Bona said his club was more likely to entertain another GCA restructure.
“We’re not running to the BPCA and haven’t had any talks with them,” Bona said.
“We’re obviously going to wait to see what the restructure holds.
“Once we find out what the restructure looks like, we’ll look at our options.
“We’re hopeful the restructure will address a lot of the issues, but obviously we’ve got to wait and see.”
The GCA will meet next Wednesday before a forum that will give hardwicket clubs a say in what the competition should look like next summer.
Bona said his club’s preference would be a return to GCA3, with long-term hopes of one day having a turf wicket.
“We would be pushing strongly and advocating strongly that GCA3 becomes an all-inclusive competition and not just a turf competition,” he said.
“It’s all right we don’t play finals on hardwicket or anything like that, but we believe that would be the move that makes sense, that if we’re strong enough and good enough, GCA3 is where we go.
“Hopefully the GCA, when they restructure, will take that into their considerations.”
But Bona has not ruled out exploring a move to the BPCA.
“You never say never, but where we’re at, we’ve got faith in the GCA making the right decision this time,” he said.