WESTERN Suburbs have strengthened their position in the Newcastle District Cricket Association after a merger with City and Suburban club Phoenix was endorsed last night.
In the second ballot on the merger, the proposal received 27 votes for, three against and two people abstained from voting.
The first ballot last month lost by a vote.
Wests held their annual general meeting before the vote and president Alan Hawgood, who voted against the merger at the first ballot, was voted out in favour of Scott Robertson.
Wests vice-president Paul Williams, the architect of the merger, said it was a relief to have the plan ratified.
"A group of us have been looking to do this for 18 months and there's a great sense of achievement tonight to finally get it through," Williams said last night.
Wests have struggled for player numbers and fielded only three grades in 2008-09 and four last season.
The NDCA named Wests in March as one of six clubs at risk of being cut.
Williams said the merger with Phoenix would ensure Wests fielded four grades and gave the club's big junior base greater choice of two-day and 40-over cricket.
"We'll start putting the plans we've had in place and we'll be looking to sign some quality players and a club coach," he said.
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