LESS than a year after taking out the reserve-grade premiership, the Barraba Bulldogs have elected to sit out the 2019 Group 4 season.
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Originally slated to field a reserve grade and ladies league tag teams, the club instead decided to focus on the 2020 season due to a player shortage.
Premiership coach Tim Coombes told the Leader a "combination of factors" lead to the club's player shortage.
"It was a few things such as the retirement of a few key players, a lack of work around the area due to the drought and a few players moving away for work," Coombes said.
"It is obviously pretty disappointing but I think small bush teams right across the country are doing it pretty tough and we unfortunately are no different."
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While the club's remaining players are likely to head to other clubs within the region, Coombes said he was likely to also sit this season out.
"I imagine the few players we did have lined up for this season will likely go to nearby clubs such as Manilla," he said.
"I don't know if any of them have committed to it yet but it is the next closest club so it makes the most sense.
"As for me, I'll probably do nothing this season."
Group 4 chairman Ray McCoy said while it was disappointing to see the Bulldogs sit out the season, he was confident they would return "bigger and better" in 2020.
"Bottom line is Barraba were unable to get enough numbers to take part in this season's competition," McCoy said.
"However, the process is now in place for Barraba to return in 2020 and we will work alongside them to make that happen.
"They have a lot of great people at the club and great leadership, from the Group's perspective we have a lot of respect for the efforts of the club's committee.
"They tried every course of action to get this season going and it is a credit to them."
Barraba's decision will cause a change to Group 4's reserve-grade and ladies league tag fixtures with the updated fixture likely to be released later in the week.
"We had a board meeting on Sunday and we are currently tinkering with the fixture at the moment," McCoy said.
"Hopefully that should all be done by Thursday this week and we will be on track for the beginning of the season on May 4."
