League: Clubs knew of decision

By Teo Pellizzeri

September 14 2007

Shepparton News

North Eastern Soccer League yesterday hit back at claims it failed to reward minor premier Shepparton by making the Reds travel to Griffith for their preliminary final against Hanwood this weekend.

Reds defender Wayne Skippen called the decision to send firstplaced Shepparton away to third-placed Hanwood "a joke" on Monday while voices around Shepparton expressed confusion and dismay at having to play the final away.

But league secretary Sam Saracino was on the front foot defending the league yesterday, saying Shepparton had already been informed that a preliminary final involving a Griffith team would have been played in the NSW town, regardless of their final seedings on the ladder.

"We decided at a delegates' meeting on August 20 to split the round between McEwen Reserve and Griffith should the games work out that way," Saracino said.

"All clubs were present that night and it was obvious that they were going to be affected.

"It's important that the delegates pass on information of decisions that are made.

"You would hope that delegates would take that back to the club and let the relevant people know; we always had it pencilled in."

Saracino cited past seasons as justification for not giving Shepparton a home final and said that there would be no guarantees that the higher-placed teams would be rewarded with home finals in the future.

"With the availability of venues and NSW teams playing in lower grades there are a number of circumstances that determine where the senior men's will be played," he said.

On the recent ratification of Shepparton Junior Soccer Association to play in Victorian junior tournaments as its own federation, Saracino said North Eastern Soccer League didn't want the town divided.

"We'll have to work out the best way to make players available so that the strongest teams can be formed," he said.