Rumours that the Blayney club have pulled out of the deal have made their way to the Blayney Chronicle with one version insisting that the Blayney club owes the Newstead club $150,000, and that the Newstead club wants it back.

“That’s totally wrong,” said the chairman of the Newstead Bowling Club, Gary Norton, a view that was echoed by the treasurer of Blayney Bowling Club, Dane Hamilton.

“It’s certainly still going ahead,” Mr Hamilton said.

“It is taking longer than expected and I suspect that some people just think it’s not happening at all, and that’s when the Chinese whispers start.”

One of the predominate rumours that Mr Norton has heard revolves around Newstead’s future plans.

“I’ve heard that once the amalgamation occurs Newstead will sell the site, and that just quite simply cannot happen because under the Club’s Act there are protections that are put in place,” he said.

“We’re actually going to be working on a plan for some redecorating, some refurbishments and simply move towards getting the premises into a more up-to-date fashion.”

The positive future of the club was echoed by Mr Hamilton.

“The clubhouse really does need a coat of paint and a facelift,” he said.

As for the rumours, Mr Norton is not at all surprised that they’re circulating.

“When it comes to the club game many of these rumours come from people who have no association with either of the clubs and they will throw rumours around trying to undermine and upset the process,” he said.

“I’ve heard all sorts of rumours and innuendo, some could be described as libel.”

Mr Norton also believes that the stories are not just coming from Blayney.

“You’ll certainly get people from within the community, and people from outside the Blayney community, who don’t have much information and just stand around talking to people who have something to say, without any bearing to any facts at all.

“There are some people who undoubtedly think that it shouldn’t go ahead and think that Blayney should go it alone, but the reality of that is that the Blayney club isn’t in a position to stand alone.”

“And there may be people from other communities that think that Newstead should be doing something different,” he added.

​The name of the club once amalgamated is still up in the air, however Mr Norton said that it will change to reflect the way other clubs in NSW have rebranded themselves. 

“It’s not at all unusual for smaller clubs to amalgamate, it’s quite common around NSW,” he said. 

“It may be a sports club or as one name that’s on the table says, Club Blayney.”

“It will certainly still retain its Blayney identity because both clubs have a vital interest that the club’s facilities remain available to the Blayney community as a bowls and function facility.”