New AFL Tasmania chief executive Robert Auld said clubs have endorsed the existing State League to not consider the return of a third team from Launceston.
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The nine TSL clubs have discussed the structure of its competition during the Future of Football Forum held at the Country Club on Monday and Tuesday.
“I think for now, the thing I am calling on is that stability is important,” Auld said.
“We have all had those conversations; we have communicated the decision on Prospect Hawks – that gave us no joy to do that.”
The TSL licence of the Prospect Hawks was forcibly revoked last month after the club was unable to affiliate a side in the State League.
South Launceston’s abrupt departure for an AFL Tasmania-backed Western Storm crumbled within two seasons before transitioning back to its Prospect licensee.
Auld believed Launceston and North Launceston now served the city well and the competition should remain at nine teams with a bye.
“We need to make sure the competition is stable before we talk about movements, whether it be growth or contraction,” he said.
“That’s what I’d like to make sure we’ve got first.”
Launceston president Paul O’Donoghue, who stood with Auld, has backed his stance for now.
“I think what’s gone over the last three or four years, involving South Launceston, Western Storm and Prospect Hawks, football here needs to settle down,” he said.
“The players who have been spread apart because of that circumstance need to find a club, settle and become a part of that club.”
“My personal opinion is that we just need to leave it and basically two teams is big enough for Launceston.”
