With just over six weeks to the start of the Farrer League season, the Jets have signed star Len Haddrill to return from Canberra to play under brother Mitch as coach.

But they've struggled to replace a significant number of departures and pressure is building to field three football teams during the year. 

"Definitely, I'm concerned," Jets president Andrew Clark said.

"We're a proud successful club. Ardlethan joined with Ariah Park a number of years back and we've won first and second grade premierships. The reason we joined together all those years ago was it was getting harder and harder with players in the bush. 

"And here we are again, finding ourselves struggling, with the decline of our small towns and lack of employment."

The Jets have launched a 'recruitment drive' on social media, hoping to encourage footballers to commit.

Clark concedes it's been a brutal introduction to coaching for Mitch Haddrill.

"It's been tough for Mitch. Lenny is coming back and we're hoping there's a few others. We've got a few in the pipeline and were hoping we'd have a few sorted out a while ago," he said.

"As a first year coach, I'm disappointed we put him in this position. 

"We've just struggled to get people to commit… it does make you wonder about the future of the club."

Clark said the club's netball numbers are good and there is a positive attitude among the footballers who have been at pre-season.  

The Jets' losses include gun backman Alex Rogers after five years' service, three Darwin recruits from last year, and a handful of players based in Coolamon who came across with former coach Mitch Robinson. 

"The boys who travelled out gave us excellent service for the years they were here. We have no gripe with them. They needed to do what they had to… but having them here for a few years probably falsely propped us up," Clark said.

He says they aren't the only country club finding it hard and is hopeful the 'call to arms' for local footballers and supporters to help will ensure their survival. 

"But I'm extremely concerned as to where the future will take the Jets and for our juniors to have somewhere to play in the future. We have reasonable numbers in the juniors but once they go into the workforce, it's hard to keep them or encourage them back."

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