Eastern Lions Soccer Club has withdrawn from the NPL in Victoria (NPLV), becoming the first club to pull out from the inaugural season of the new national second tier competition.

Due to play in in NPL1, the second division of the NPLV, the withdrawal now leaves 15 teams in the competition.

In a statement on the club’s website, the Lions’ board outlined the reasons for withdrawing from the competition, following “substantial input from members and parents, communication with the FFV and the City of Monash.”

The club’s decision stemmed from a failed application for a 12-month deferral from the competition, which was rejected without reason, despite Border FC and Eastern Jets being granted the same allowance.

Furthermore, the Lions were also unable to reach an agreement with the local Monash council regarding the NPL licence.

With the council in favour of supporting community clubs, Eastern Lions would have needed to establish a community club with priority use of Gardiners Reserve, a condition the club deemed “unworkable”.

Part of the club’s application for deferral was to aid the process of transition, with “concerns for families regarding the financial implications and high costs that would be imposed by accepting the offer.”

With the request denied, Eastern Lions concluded the club was “not comfortable with certain terms that would be imposed under the NPL Participation Licence.”

The statement also reiterated Eastern Lions’ commitment to supporting all club members.

“Eastern Lions Soccer Club has a long and proud history in which the culture of inclusion and community spirit is highly valued.”

Discussions will continue among board members regarding their direction for the 2015 season.

In the meantime, Eastern Lions will mostly likely be put in State League 1 South-East for the upcoming 2014 season.