The club is weighing up whether to stay in Group 4 as a reserve grade side or ask the CRL for a release to join the Castlereagh Cup because it doesn’t have the player depth to compete in the Group 4 first grade.

But Noel Watton, a former club president, but is no longer involved with the club, reckons the town could still support a top grade side.

“There’s still enough players in town to play in Group 4,” he said.

“They’re short of quality players but they could still put a competitive side on the paddock.

“They just want the easy way out.”

One of the reasons cited for Coona’s demise is the loss of players from the Watton family and this is a point of particular grievance.

Several members of the Watton family made the move to Gunnedah last year, including Noel’s son Peter and nephews Jarvis, Darryl and Dean.

But Noel Watton said the players left due to the actions of the Coona committee, not because Gunnedah lured them.

“Gunnedah never came here with a chequebook,” he said.

“The boys went there of their own accord.

“A lot of people are still saying it’s the Wattons’ fault, but it’s down to the 2009 committee.

“They only wanted two players – Scott and Jarvis – and they didn’t want the others.”

Coona is supposed to make a decision this week about whether it will accept the Group’s offer of a spot in the lower grades this season.

That offer was made on Saturday but some clubs are already suggesting the Group let the Unicorns go to the Castlereagh comp because allowing them into the reserve grade, under 18s and 16s will cause too much havoc with the Group 4 first grade draw.

Some teams will go several weeks without a game unless the Unicorns are let go and the draw re-written without them.