HORSHAM United has quashed rumours of a possible merger with a Horsham District club.
Rumours are rife in football circles that Horsham United was actively seeking to align with a Horsham District team after a disastrous season on the field.
Horsham United sits on the bottom of the Wimmera league ladder with one win after 13 rounds.
Serial district league cellar dwellers Taylors Lake and Pimpinio have been linked with the Diggers.
Horsham United president Bill Lovel said the club was not looking for a merger.
"There is no truth to that and there has been no talk about it either," Lovel said.
Lovel said the club had discussed its future direction but there had been no mention of a merger with any other club.
"The biggest problem we have had this season was losing the number of players that we lost at the start of the year and not being able to replace those players," he said.
Horsham United has struggled to fill two senior teams because of an expanding injury list.
Several players have been forced to play two games in one round.
Lovel said the club had a financially strong base and was already starting to build for next season.
He said the first priority was to retain the current playing list.
Taylors Lake president Stuart Hall also strongly denied any merger talks.
"There is absolutely no truth to that, there has been no talk within the club and it is not something we will be entertaining," he said.
Hall said the Lakers' focus was getting off the bottom of the ladder and building the junior program.
"We are working very hard to get off the bottom of the ladder and our focus is on recruitment and making people realise Taylors Lake Football Club is an attractive place for people to come," he said.
"We have got very good facilities and we have some money in the bank, so we are looking good in that respect."
Pimpinio secretary Gaynor Baker said she had not heard of any merger talks about the club.
"There has been no discussion that I am aware of," Baker said.
Wimmera football general manager Stephen McQueen said the basic process for a merger would involve both clubs, in conjunction with their individual constitutions, voting to approve or disapprove the proposed merger.
McQueen said if a merger was to go ahead both leagues and the VCFL would decide which competition the new team would play in.
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