The Maitland Pickers have been given a further boost to their financial future with the club negotiating a reduced fee for the lease of Maitland Sportground.
It comes off the back of yesterday's announcement of a lucrative 30-year sponsorship deal with Club Maitland City.
The Pickers will tenant Maitland Sportsground for the first half of the 2018 season under the fee structure before the redevelopment.
A proposal for the 2018/19 Financial Year between Maitland City Council and the Pickers will decide the fee structure moving forward.
Club president Frank Lawler believes the previous reluctance of the Council to reduce fees to use the ground is beginning to shift.
'I think the Council is now actually listening to the tough times that we've had recently,' Lawler said.
'We put it to the Counsellors in a meeting [and] they said to leave the fees [as they previously were],'
'They're now doing a review on the 2018/19 season and a proposal will go off to Council,'
Lawler is hopeful of the Council keeping the fee structure in check past this deadline.
'Without a doubt, it's a fantastic facility but [the Council] have got to remember that we're in Maitland,'
'People can only afford so much.'
The small respite means the Pickers can put a tumultuous off-season behind them as they look towards Round 1 in next month.
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