Three of Young’s best exports have signed with Cootamundra, Matt McKnight, Tyler Allen and Caylum Barber, attracted to the Strikers after the club’s stellar season, and grand final appearance. 

“Matty McKnight’s one of the best players we’ve had, but I understand he’s joined a mate there,” Cameron said.

“It hurts to lose them, but I’d prefer to have the happy people we have, the people who want to play for their town.”

Allen and Barber have dual registered with the Wagga City Wanderers and Cootamundra, and are tipped to hardly play a game in the Football Wagga competition.

The pair are on the Wanderers’ starting line-up, and coach Ben Schmid said it’s unlikely they will be released to play if they’ve played state league soccer that weekend.

Young’s Fraser Burns has joined the Wanderers’ under 20’s squad this season.

“We want that, we think it’s a wonderful pathway,” Cameron said.

However, dual registration has been problematic for the club in the past.

“How do you bring back three people and drop people who have done the right thing all year?” he said.

Despite losses, spirits are high at Young after their first win of the season, and players hope to make it two at Gus Smith Oval against Tumut on Sunday.