On Wednesday night Guyra president Peter Presnell put  the Super Spuds’ case, and was voted in by a committee that includes one representative from each club as well as a few administrators.

Group president Mick Lewis said  the interest shown from several smaller clubs including Warialda and Guyra was a great development.

“It is great to see them all applying to come in at first grade level,” Lewis said.

“With Guyra, a lot depends on what happens with the union side.”

“In the end, you get what you can get and we will play it from there.”

A representative from Narwan was also at the meeting although the club is yet to put a formal proposal forward.

The side has been given a list of criteria to meet before the group will consider its inclusion.

“They owe debts to the group and to some businesses,” Lewis said.

“Those debts will need to be paid before we let them back in.”

Once the debts are paid, Narwan will have to submit a business plan to every club in the group who will vote on their future.

“Majority rules,” Lewis said.

“They expressed that they could pay the debts within a week with sponsorship money.

“They are confident they can do it and, if so, the group would love to have them back.”

With Uralla being officially released to play in Group 4 Second Division next season, the committee believes Armidale has the player pool to support two sides.

This time last year, several former Armidale players went to the  Uralla Tigers as they came back into the top grade.

Lewis is expecting that at least some of them will stay in Armidale rather than travel that extra distance to Group 4.

“Narwan has to be careful not to take Armidale Rams players,” Lewis said.

“There should be enough players to form two competitive teams.”

While there has been no communication yet, Lewis is expecting a late application from Tenterfield as well.

The Tenterfield Tigers were playing in the Border League, although the loss of Stanthorpe to Toowoomba leaves a very weak league which Tenterfield would dominate alone.

“There is a bit going on up there so it wouldn’t surprise me to see them come down here,” Lewis said.

“I am expecting a late application.”

Lewis is excited to see the competition gaining sides, especially from smaller towns.

The group could potentially start with 11 clubs.

“We got some good publicity about the fact we are welcoming and encouraging small clubs,” Lewis said.

“When second division fell over, they could have gone with it but they surfaced and put their hand up for first grade.”

“It is great to see and the competition is going really well.”