Northern Inland Football operations manager Toby McVey said Tamworth Regional Council's decision to waive over $1000 in pre-season training fees will "help keep the lights on".
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At Tuesday night's council meeting councillors voted to waive the field hiring fees incurred between January and March for eight sporting groups including the NIF.
Calculated at $2,281.29 in total, the NIF's fees were just shy of $1,500 ($1,471.53).
Having already had to take some drastic measures to ensure their financial viability amid the COVID crisis - the organisation had to stand down some of it's staff - the decision offers some welcome financial relief.
"We're extremely happy with the announcement from council's meeting last night in regard to the waiver of field hire fees for the start of the year," McVey said.
"It will help our organisation. Clubs and players are still feeling the effect of COVID-19 so any financial assistance we receive is greatly appreciated."
"It obviously helps keep the lights on in a time when not a lot of income is coming in."
Usually the NIF pays the council and recoup the cost though registration fees.
"All our clubs in Tamworth, part of the NIF component of their registration fee is field hire for training and competition," McVey said.
But with little revenue coming through registrations the NIF were going to have absorb the cost.
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The Kootingal-Moonbi Rugby League ($132.72), Tamworth Swans AFL ($229.60), Tamworth Kangaroos AFL ($184.80), Tamworth Magpies Rugby Union ($58.80) and Tamworth Pirates Rugby Union ($203.84) also had their fees waived.
Swans president Josh McKenzie also welcomed the decision.
"We're still in a very grey area as far as our finances," he said.
They're still not sure of what the outlay will be to play this season - should the season go ahead - or how their sponsors are placed.
The loss of revenue for council will be covered by savings in the Significant Sports Event Fee Subsidisation fund, with several significant events this year cancelled.
