Foundation club Balmain could fold in five months after Leichhardt Council's attempt to rezone the dilapidated leagues club site on Victoria Road was formally refused.

The Balmain Tigers have a history spanning 107 years, it is one half of the Wests Tigers joint venture. And it was hoped the Rozelle Village site would provide the entity the financial lifeline required to survive. However, the Department of Planning and Environment has knocked back the proposal, meaning Balmain could disappear from the league landscape.

Balmain remain a part of Wests Tigers, but its inability to contribute financially has effectively left it as a silent partner in the marriage, without the right to vote at board level. The NRL has loaned Balmain the outstanding monies, but the foundation club is required to contribute its next funding amount on March 31 of next year. If Balmain remain an unfinancial shareholder beyond that date, its shares are defaulted and placed up for sale.

Leichhardt Council and the site's owner, Rozelle Village, are again at loggerheads and the parties are likely to head to the courtroom.

In an open letter to Leichhardt ratepayers and Balmain Tigers members, Balmain chairman Dr Leslie Glenn slammed the council for not working in with the latest plans of developer Ian Wright.