CONFUSION reigned yesterday over the newly-formed Swim Bournemouth squad’s plans for the National Arena League season, which gets underway just nine days from now.

Ferndown Otters and Bournemouth Dolphins, the two clubs involved in the merger, hope to announce today whether they will field two or three teams in the first round on October 9 and in which divisions.

As it stands, the squad has three teams entered for the league – Otters and Dolphins A in the Premier Division West and Dolphins B in Division Two.

But following the provisional merger in August, coaches Emma Hirst and Sam Woodward decided to withdraw one team from the Premier Division, knowing that a B team would inevitably struggle in the toughest league in the country.

They applied to withdraw Dolphins A, which among other things would ensure that both Ferndown and Bournemouth would still have a team in the league should the merger not be concluded.

However, league officials have ruled that if a Dolphins team is withdrawn, it must be the B team from Division Two.

This leaves Swim Bournemouth with several options: <•>stick with three teams knowing that the lesser Premier Division team will struggle <•>stick with three teams and field two of roughly equal standard in the Premier <•>withdraw Ferndown and risk Otters having to start from the bottom division next year if the merger is not concluded <•>withdraw Dolphins B from Division Two knowing that one of the two Premier teams will struggle – and that this would also consign one of the remaining teams to Division Three next season if the merger is confirmed <•>stick with three entered teams but fail to turn up with one and face a fine for each round missed Woodward and Hirst declined to comment until they had made a decision and notified their members.

Meanwhile, in Division One Poole could be looking at their best result since they were relegated from the Premier Division in 2003.

The club are enjoying a renaissance under coach Robin Armayan, who has already led them to third place in the Southern Junior League and inherited a dozen or so swimmers following the recent coaching changes at Ferndown and Bournemouth.

But Poole have already lost one of their first round opponents at Bath following the withdrawal of Dinnaton.

Promoted Christchurch and New Milton Seagulls head for Newport to make their debut in Division One.

First round draw (subject to late changes) – Premier Division – Gala 2 (at Newport): Millfield, Bridgend, Ferndown Otters, Somerset Cheetas, City of Cardiff A, Taunton Deane.

Gala 3 (at Millfield): Bournemouth Dolphins A, Swim Swansea, Nofio Sir Gar, Plymouth Leander B, SX3 A.

Division One – Gala 1 (at Bath): Glamorgan Valleys, Soundwell A, Poole, Bath, Bodmin.

Gala 2 (at Newport): Torfaen A, Bleanau Gwent, Weston-super-Mare, Christchurch & New Milton Seagulls, Southwold, Barnstaple.

Division Two – Gala 1 (at Exeter Riverside): Kingsbridge Kingfishers, Torridgeside, Bournemouth Dolphins B, West Wilts Force 5 B, Dawlish.

Division Three South – Gala 1 (at Exeter Pyramids): Tavistock, Clayesmore, Wareham, Caradon, Oddicombe.

Gala 2 (at Sherborne): Ilfracombe, Jurassic, Tornadoes of South Dorset, Yeovil B, North Dorset Turboes.