SOUTHS United Football Club are embracing Northern Inland Football's decision to scrap the Premier League in favour of new northern and southern conferences.
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The club's top-grade side competed in Tamworth District Football (TDF) first grade in 2019, but could be in line for a step up in 2020.
Souths are in the mix to be one of the four clubs to join the three existing Premier League clubs in the new competition.
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Club president Mark Ross said he was confident the Lightning would be a good fit for the new competition.
"We're certainly in support of the new competition structure," Ross told the Leader.
"It's going to be a great pathway for our younger guys, who are working their way through the ranks.
"In 2019, we had four senior teams and a really strong contingent of juniors, so we certainly have the depth to maintain a team in a top-flight competition."
The Lightning were a strong force in the TDF competitions, reaching the preliminary final in first grade and the grand final in reserve grade.
"I've got no doubt we would be really competitive if we were included in the new competition," Ross said.
"We've got some really talented young guys, who would really benefit from playing against some of the best players in the region."
Ross said while the competition would "take some time to get going" it would benefit the region long-term.
"Like most clubs, we are always looking at ways to get our younger players to stick around," he said.
"I think a clear pathway for them like this would be a great way to keep them around."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
