Friday marked the end of an era in the city as Maitland District Leagues Club ceased trading and closed its doors.
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About 1.30pm Friday the club announced on its Facebook page that closure was effective immediately.
“Effective immediately. Maitland Leagues Club has closed it's doors and ceased trading,” the post read.
Maitland Leagues Club announced in March it had gone into voluntary administration owing some of its creditors hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The club’s board of directors resolved at a meeting on March 11 to place the Bulwer Street business into voluntary administration appointing Newcastle-based insolvency firm Shaw Gidley administrators.
In April the club and Club Maitland City announced a proposal to amalgamate, with both business entities tipped to trade from Club Maitland City's Rutherford site.
Leagues Club administrators and Maitland City CEO Ian Martin announced the proposal and said both organisations had entered into a memorandum of understanding which was agreed to "in principle".
The Leagues Club premises, initially valued at more than $3million, was to be sold to extinguish creditors’ claims against the club, and Club Maitland City was to receive any remaining Leagues Club assets to support it in honouring its commitments under the memorandum.
What was earlier described as an “imminent sale”, fell through and the club went to auction in November but was passed in.
Mr Martin said it was a disappointing day however the Pickers remain strong.
“The rugby league club is fine. I met with Pickers President Frank Lawler on Friday to reassure him,” Mr Martin said.
Meanwhile The Pickers were to hold an old boys day at the leagues club on Saturday and have been forced to find another venue at the eleventh hour.
Mr Lawler said while they are on the lookout for another venue for their get together, the old boys wanted to have their “last hurrah” at the Bulwer Street club.
“In regards to the club’s closure it’s very sad,” Mr Lawler said.
“We knew it was coming but that didn’t make things any easier.
“It’s very sad to see it go,” he said.
