Merger to bolster junior prospects

The future of junior and senior cricket in Albany appears clearer with a merger between the two associations almost certain following a special meeting this week.

A special general meeting will be held later this month by Albany Junior Cricket Association with a special resolution to dissolve the AJCA.

A proposed merger would give life to junior cricket in Albany after the AJCA failed to find the necessary committee members at last month’s AGM.

Both the Albany Cricket Association and the AJCA are working towards the alignment, in a move that would guarantee the local junior cricket season will go ahead.

A special general meeting has been proposed by the AJCA for July 22 with a resolution to dissolve the AJCA and any assets be transferred to the ACA.

ACA president Terry Eaton said bringing junior and senior cricket together in the region would provide sustainability.

“This has a lot of potential,” Eaton said. “We have to sit down and workout a framework but I’m confident we can get the right outcome for the kids and cricket as a whole in the region.

“There is a chance here to join the divide and create that pathway for juniors to seniors.

“The WACA are keen to support this and it may take 12-18 months to settle down but to me it’s really exciting, to be honest.

“At the end we can have a very good outcome for cricket in the Great Southern.”

Eaton has contacted cricket stakeholders in the South West for assistance in the transition process and said they will look at having a junior and senior vice-president on the ACA executive.

The ACA is waiting to finalise a new constitution, with amendments likely to be made after the alignment with junior cricket.

Outgoing AJCA president Jackie Boyce confirmed the move to transition to the ACA.

“Following a rescheduled AGM a meeting was held (on) Monday with a negative result with no nominations,” she said.

“After some discussions by all in attendance it has been resolved to have a meeting in 21 days with the agenda item of a special resolution to amalgamate junior cricket with the Albany Cricket Association.”

The meeting will be held at Albany PCYC on July 22 from 6pm.