By DAVID NAGEL
THE mutiny against the board and administration of the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (MPNFL) is complete after the Peninsula Football Netball League (PFNL) clubs issued a ‘Notice of No Confidence’ last Friday night.
The MPNFL, which just eight months ago was responsible for the administration of three leagues, Casey Cardinia (CCFNL), Nepean (NFNL) and Peninsula, has now lost administration rights to them all.
The disgruntled CCFNL clubs collectively withdrew from the MPNFL at the end of last year, to become the South East Football Netball League (SEFNL), while the Nepean league clubs issued their ‘Notice of Non Confidence’ just last week.
Poor overall governance and the lack of a strategic plan heading forward seem to be the key issues at play for all three leagues.
Eight of the 10 PNFL clubs, Bonbeach, Chelsea, Edithvale-Aspendale, Karingal, Langwarrin, Mornington, Pines and Seaford supported last Friday’s motion, which in effect, will see AFL South East, based at Casey Fields, takeover the administration and governance of the NFNL and PNFL in a caretaker capacity.
Frankston YCW abstained from the vote; with Mt Eliza the only club to vote against the move.
A Special General Meeting will be called by the end of this week, where the MPNFL Board is expected to resign.
The NFNL and PNFL will be administered with current resources at the MPNFL’s head-office in Somerville for the remainder of this season, but will be overseen and governed by AFL South East Commission general manager Jeremy Bourke.
AFL South East will conduct an immediate financial audit of the MPNFL while an independent governance review will take place in the background to decide the best structure of governance going forward.
Signatories and approvals are expected to be changed this week with Bourke having the final say on all matters for the remainder of this season.
All leagues that are overseen by the AFL South East regional structure will have their own independent boards, retaining each league’s identity, but will work with the commission to provide a collaborative approach that will benefit both football and netball in the region.
SEFNL now has its own dynamic board, its own resources in place, and the backing of the AFL South East Commission to take it forward.
Nepean and Peninsula will appoint their own boards once the audits and reviews are complete.
With all three leagues now under the AFL umbrella the discussions around the benefits of a divisional football structure within the region will no doubt continue to grow.
