THE Hampden Football League has pulled out all stops to secure a ninth team for its competition next season.
The league has engaged a Melbourne law firm, seeking options that would allow Hamilton Imperials to switch from the neighbouring Western Border league.
The Victorian Country Football League has rejected the Imperials' request to transfer five times in the past 21 years.
Hampden chief executive Steven Soulsby said the league and club were disappointed. "They're obviously very keen to move to our league," he said.
He said legal advice was sought after the VCFL appeals board turned down the Imperials' most recent transfer request last month.
In a statement, the VCFL said Western Border was the appropriate league for the Imperials. The statement implied Imperials should delay their transfer bid until next year's review of football in the state's southwest.
There may also be further outcomes from the AFL's review of country football.
"We've sort of just said to the lawyers: 'Here's the case, what do you reckon?'," Mr Soulsby said. "They might come back with 10 options, they might come back with three. But we're keen to see what those options are."
Mr Soulsby said time was critical, as the club needed to secure players, coaches and sponsors for next season. "They're prepared to take it further because they want their destiny in their own hands, not in someone else's," he said.
Mr Soulsby said a decision on any legal challenge was likely to be made by the end of this week.
"Ultimately, if it went ahead, it would be Imperials versus the VCFL, not the Hampden Football League versus the VCFL," he said. "The club would have to foot the bill."
