MIKE Parsons from Taree has taken over as interim chairman of the Football Mid North Coast board.
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This follows the shock resignation of Graham Pilkie last week.
Mr Pilkie had been in the chair since 2005.
Mr Parsons was previously the deputy chairman.
"I've been asked by the board to stand-in as chairman until our annual meeting in November,'' Mr Parsons said, adding that he was 'shocked' by Mr Pilkie's resignation.
Mr Pilkie had been chairman of Football Mid North Coast since its inception in 2005 following the merger of the Oxley and Manning associations.
Mr Parsons said he has not yet decided whether he'll stand for the position of chairman next November at the annual meeting.
He said Mr Pilkie left an 'indelible imprint' on football in this area.
"Graham was an outstanding administrator,'' Mr Parsons added.
He said the board will now concentrate on the semi-finals of the various competitions under its umbrella including the premier league.
Football Mid North Coast general manager Peter Daniel said Mr Pilkie played an instrumental role in the merger between the Oxley and Manning associations. He had previously been president of the Oxley association.
"He had been involved with football in this area for 28 years,'' Mr Daniel pointed out.
"Graham was certainly an icon in our game.''
FOOTBALL Mid North Coast rejected a late application from the Wauchope club to challenge for a place in next year's premier league competition.
FMNC general manager Peter Daniel confirmed this.
Mr Daniel said all FMNC clubs were e-mailed on May 13 regarding applications to play in the premier league. The deadline was June 30. When this expired the league had received notification from the 10 incumbent clubs meaning there would be no promotion/relegation game required for the first time in three years.
Mr Daniel said he then received an e-mail from Wauchope on August 13 seeking to challenge for a place in the 2016 competition. Had this been allowed Wauchope would have played Taree - the side that came last in this season's premier league, for a spot in the competition next year.
Mr Daniel said he was concerned about setting a precedent regarding late applications.
"We have a due process and a time frame for premier league applications,'' he said.
Mr Daniel added had struggling clubs known there was going to be a promotion/relegation game they would have prepared accordingly. He maintains it would have been unfair to tell those clubs towards the end of the competition-proper that there would in fact be a match.
Mr Daniel is a former Wauchope player. He has since spoken to the club's administration on the decision.
He said all clubs in Football Mid North Coast are encouraged to seek a place in the premier league if they believe they have the resources. He believes Wauchope may now concentrate on a bid for the 2017 season.
FMNC acting chairman Mike Parsons supported the decision.
"It application wasn't only late, it was substantially late,'' he said.