The deadline for clubs nominating for places in ^th e league lapsed yesterday.

Nine sides are playing in the premier league this year after Old Bar withdrew in January citing a lack of players for two grades.

The Barbarians are dominating the one-grade southern all age competition this year and are unbeaten from 10 games. Old Bar has scored 46 goals and conceded just five to be seven points clear of second placed Pacific Palms. The Barbarians beat Palms 4-2 last Saturday.

However, Barbaians president Warren Steedman said that numerically the club still doesn’t have enough players to field first and reserve grade sides in the premier league in 2017. He believes that at the moment the Barbarians would only have about 12 players willing to turn out in the competition that stretches from Forster-Tuncurry to Kempsey. 

“We’re looking to build up our club so we can confidently field two premier league teams,’’ Mr Steedman emphasised.

Part of this plan will be to enter two sides in the all age competition in 2017, while Mr Steedman said the Barbarians are looking to build numbers from the junior grades through to the YD1 (under 17/18s) and the seniors.

The Barbarians have struggled in the premier league in recent years and Mr Steedman believes this also led to a wane in interest among players. “We’re looking to build a winning culture in our club,’’ he said.

He added the players are enjoying the all age competition this year but believes getting a second side in 2017 is imperative. The all age takes in clubs from the Manning and Great Lakes areas.

Old Bar’s withdrawal from the premier league left Taree Wildcats as the sole Manning representative in the competition. Two seasons ago there were three – Taree, Old Bar and Wingham.

Currently the league boasts two clubs from Forster-Tuncurry, four from the Hastings and two from Kempsey.

Mr Steedman has spoken to Football Mid North Coast board chairman Mike Parsons about the club’s plans and said Mr Parsons is supportive.

He added the club believes it would be pointless to return to the premier league again in 2017 only to again battle for players and finish among the also rans and possibly be forced to withdraw the following year.

Mr Parsons has said previously he was confident a 10^th club would nominate for the premier league for next year. At the time of going to press it was unknown if there were any nominations.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Taree will play Wallis Lake in a premier league clash deferred from last month because of wet weather on Saturday July 9 at Omaru Park. 

This was set aside a spare weekend in the draw.