GREAT Western Football Club will remain in the Horsham and District league next season.
The Victorian Country Football League turned down its bid to switch competitions.
The Lions appealed to the VCFL after their preferred new home, the Mininera and District league, rejected a transfer application in October.
The club was informed last week its appeal had been denied by the VCFL board. VCFL rules prevent Great Western from submitting a similar transfer request for two years.
In a short statement, the VCFL said it "did not see the need to force change" in the Mininera and District league.
The decision comes less than two months after the VCFL approved the inclusion of Ararat Eagles in the Mininera league, despite Mininera clubs voting against it.
"The VCFL board ... was of the opinion that the Mininera league be given time to consolidate before any further changes be contemplated," the statement said.
Great Western applied for the transfer to combat player recruitment and retention problems caused by long travelling distances.
Meanwhile, the Gippsland league will boast 10 competing clubs for the first time since 1998, after it formally accepted Bairnsdale Football Club into its ranks at the league's annual general meeting last week.
The Redlegs will field teams in the senior, under-18 and under-16 football grades, and as many as five netball teams.
Bairnsdale will host their first home game back in the major competition against Moe
 will return to Gippsland's major Australian rules football league after members voted to join the Gippsland League (GL). The GL,  and the , regional Victoria's governing Aussie rules body, have all approved the move.


'''Round 1, 2011'''

''April 9''
Warragul vs. Bairnsdale
Wonthaggi vs. Morwell
Traralgon vs. Leongatha

''April 10''
Maffra vs. Sale
Drouin vs. Moe


Bairnsdale will field teams in the seniors, under 18 and under 16 grades, but not a reserves side like the rest of the competition. Players not selected in the senior side will be able to play for a club in the East Gippsland minor league, under a unique transfer agreement. 

They will play their first game back in the major league in Warragul on April 9 before playing their first home game against Moe a week later.

Their furthest away game will be to Wonthaggi – a one way trip of approximately 224 kilometres.