Pirates stand ground

THE Parkmore Pirates are doing their swashbuckling best to stay on and play in division two next season.
Despite winning the Southern Football League division three premiership and being promoted to the second division, a personnel exodus has prompted the club to return to its ‘grass-roots’ base.
After the well documented exit of former coach Richard Houston, Parkmore lost a number of players, but the club is keen to recruit and play on in 2007.
Football manager Mike Smyth said it was no longer about big money and big heads, but genuine footy players who wanted to play for one another.
“It’s not good for football having some players paid a lot of money and some paid nothing,” he said.
“When both players leave the field, their bodies are equally as sore.”
Smyth confirmed that Danny Casset (St Kilda City), Anthony McDonald (retired) and Kevin McLean (Hampton Park) would not be playing at Wachter Reserve next year.
Smyth said the club was aiming to play division two, but the option of reverting back to division three was a possibility.
“The SFL has a policy of one-up and one-down promotion and relegation, but the door to division three remains open,” he said.
SFL director Stephen Barnes said the league would only consider altering its promotion-delegation system in exceptional circumstances.
“Parkmore won the division three premiership, so will play in division two next year; it is a simple process,” he said.
“In drastic circumstances we would consider regrading teams, but at this stage Parkmore have not approached the league.”