The new club on the block, Barnstoneworth nominated for the WPL at the league’s annual general meeting on January 29, but were given a couple of days to sort out which competition - first grade, reserve grade or under 18s - they would play in.

Coach Chris Jacobs said after losing a large number of players of first grade standard, it would be in the best interest of the club to play their first WPL season in reserve grade.

“We’ve had a slight dent put in the juggernaut,” Jacobs laughed.

“All of the first grade guys we had show interest in playing with us this season have basically pulled out. At the meeting on the weekend with the Western Premier League we tabled the idea of us putting a second grade side in only and it looks like that’s the road we’ll go down.”

One of the main concerns for Barnstoneworth was the substitutions rule in first grade.

Jacobs said it would be beneficial for Barnstoneworth to play under the interchange rule of the lower grade competition, meaning the coach can run players on and off the field as he pleases.

“It opens up the idea for us to bring in a few other, older Barnstoneworth players who are quite good footballers, but might not be up to first grade any more,” he said.

Barnstoneworth’s decision is another blow for the WPL.

WPL president Jim Auld expected the first grade competition to have seven sides in 2012.

But with Barnstoneworth now playing reserve grade and sides like Wellington, Bathurst City Colts, Canobolas Rangers and CYMS not nominating at all, the first grade competition will again have just the five sides competing for the trophy this winter.

But you can hardly blame Barnstoneworth.

After the side’s main striker, Luke Sullivan, decided to stick with Bathurst 75 this season on top of another four first grade players putting their church before football on a Sunday, the club will do well to compete in reserve grade in 2012.

Players in then out, it’s the perils of trying to get a new team off the ground.

“That’s why we started [recruiting] early,” Jacobs said.

“We’ve still got a few young guys who are interested in playing but they’re 14, 15-year-olds. This year, the club thought it would be a better option to just have fun this season in second grade, with the view of having three sides in three years.

“It’s great the WPL is looking at different options like this to build the competition.”

Barnstoneworth train at Perry Oval every Sunday from 4pm.