THE Macleay Mustangs have again been voted out of the 2015 rugby league season.
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The decision was made by Group 3 Rugby League at a meeting on Sunday.
The Mustangs were excluded from the competition by the group management in October after losing all criteria points following incidents during the season.
However, the club was allowed to present its case to Group 3 on Sunday.
The Mustangs voted in a new management committee last week.
Group 3 Rugby League president Wayne Bridge told The Macleay Argus the Mustangs received a good hearing.
"The Macleay Mustangs put their case to all the clubs and committee and then it was put to a secret ballot,” Mr Bridge said. “Unfortunately, the ballot was 15 to 5 against the Macleay Valley entering the Group Three competition.
"The support obviously wasn’t enough, but they received a good hearing."
When asked what this meant for Group 3 Rugby League, Mr Bridge said it puts a “bye into the competition”.
“All the other clubs are on notice,” Mr Bridge said. “It’s not just the Macleay; if others do the same then they will be treated the same way.
“It is unfortunate that the actions of a few have affected a lot more and effectively held the club to ransom and cost the club its position.”
Mustangs secretary Bruce Cain, former club president Mike Spalding and Kempsey Shire mayor Liz Campbell all spoke at Sunday’s meeting.
The club also put forward a submission that went to every Group 3 club along with members of the management.
“We stated our case and they voted without us present," Mr Cain said. “We put forward our proposal and covered the criteria.
"We were advised when we arrived that the past was the past and to only talk about the future. We gave them all of that and then we get the notification that we weren’t successful. I believe they voted on the past, not the future.”
The Mustangs have nearly run out of options to get back into the Group 3 competition.
Mr Cain said they would be making one last attempt by talking to the Country Rugby League.
“We are not talking appeal, we are talking about starting a dialogue," Mr Cain said. “We believe we have ticked all the boxes to gain entry into Group 3 Rugby League; however, we were refused and we want to know what the next step is.”
The Macleay Argus asked for comment from Country Rugby League CEO Terry Quinn but he was unavailable.