The Strikers became the second team in Cootamundra, after Group Nine Rugby League's Bulldogs, to confirm their withdrawal from the top flight.

Dobbin said all indicators were the club was well on track to field a first grade squad this season before the coronavirus pandemic, and is optimistic they will bounce back immediately in 2021.

He also confirmed Gundagai, who had been fielding a third grade team which would feed into South Wagga this season, won't compete.

"Coota had a Pascoe Cup team (ready to go), what hurt them was the delay in starting," he said.

"They're certain they'll come back. Once the games start there might be players who decided not to return this year saying 'maybe I should have'.

"It's always a worry with a small town and certainly Coota, looking at what's happened with rugby league there.

"I'm no expert but I assume the downturn in the economy, the delay in starting and the fact it's a small town makes it very difficult for sporting organisations to attract and retain players who have other worries at the moment."

Dobbin said one of those is schooling, with many small town teams relying on teenagers to fill their respective squads.

"A number of clubs rely on high school students in their seniors, and there's quite a number feeling the effects of the schooling aspect," he said.

"A few have decided to concentrate on their HSE, the normal season would finish at the end of September so it's put a different spin on it. It wouldn't surprise me if a couple more issues come out of that, we just have to run with it."

Cootamundra's exit means a bye will be incorporated into the draw, which will now feature nine teams.

"We've come up with a broad plan, but we need a few extra details to approach things with some certainty," Dobbin said.

"We have to talk between ourselves a bit more and we hope in the next few days we'll get back to the clubs and say this is what we're going with."

Like most codes, Football Wagga is working toward a planned July 18 restart to their competitions.

READ MORE