Premier League Hockey president Michelle Stevenson admits her committee will have to consider all of its options - including a potential day change - to ensure the men's competition remains viable after Lithgow Zig Zag was forced to withdraw from the 2019 title race, leaving this winter's premiership with just four teams.
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Zig Zag notified Stevenson and the PLH board of its plight during the pre-season gala days and confirmed they'd be absent from the 2019 season last week.
Bathurst St Pat's, Orange Wanderers and premiers Lithgow Panthers are the only remaining sides from last year's competition, with Souths also folding after making last year's grand final.
The competition has been boosted by the return of Parkes.
Round one begins this Saturday in Bathurst and Orange with the four sides, which is a far cry from a decade ago when the men's league had nine teams.
Orange CYMS, Bloomfield, St Pat's, Lithgow Panthers, Lithgow Zig Zag, Dubbo, Parkes clubs Redbacks and Magpies as well as Souths all took part in the 2009 men's PLH title race.
There's eight sides currently fighting out the 2019 women's PLH premiership.
There's a lot to be discussed to see how we can get players back.
- PLH president Michelle Stevenson.
Stevenson said with so much men's sport on offer hockey's premier league numbers have taken an obvious hit but she's determined to help turn things around.
"There's a lot to be discussed to see how we can get players back. We might have to look at changing days, something like that," Stevenson said.
The first-year PLH president said Zig Zag was working with juniors to help reform in 2020.
"And with a bit of luck Souths are the same," she added.
Stevenson said any potential disbanding of the competition would be "up to the men".
The 2019 competition kicks off on Saturday with Wanderers hosting premiers Panthers at Orange from 12.30pm, while Parkes will mark their return to the competition proper with a road trip to Bathurst to face St Pat's - that game starts at 1.50pm.
The new draw has three rounds over nine weeks with a bye on July 13 so the men's and women's competition reach their crescendos on the same weekend, Saturday, August 31.
The men will maintain a top four finals system.
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