"Cornell (Mason) has gone back to Ratana and we understood a few players followed him, although players have also moved to other clubs. Marton pulled out because they couldn't gather a premier team this season," Kenny said.
Mason, however, was not aware Marton had pulled pin when contacted by the Chronicle yesterday and was both surprised and disappointed.
"I've just come back from the national sevens tournament in Auckland where my 40s team came third. I hadn't heard Marton were not fielding a premier team," Mason said.
"I have gone back to Ratana. That's where I'm from and coached their premier side in 2011 and 2012 before going to Marton in 2013 and 2014."
Mason denied premier players had followed him and blamed in-fighting within the Marton club as a possible reason.
"None have followed me. Some have gone to Kaierau and Pirates and some have committed to sevens. I think it's internal stuff that's caused this. Marton needs to take a hard look at themselves. It's really sad, though. I'm a Rangitikei man myself, so it's sad. They had a good premier side and two pretty good seasons.
"My biggest problem as coach was nine of my premier side worked nightshift and you can't plan meaningful, training sessions with that many missing," Mason said.
Marton council of clubs delegate and former top player Bruce Galpin conceded there had been problems within the club, but no more than many other. He did not elaborate.
"In any club you get those who don't get on - there's always the odd one or two," Galpin said.
"He said the club had 35 players available, but that was not enough to field two sides.
"We've had a few players move on and we have some good players in the B side, but unfortunately they're not quite ready to step up to premier grade. Some of these young guys are just out of school and it it may take a season or two before they are ready. In my time with the club (since 1986) I can't recall Marton never being able to field a premier team. It's sad, but that's the way it is unfortunately," Galpin said.
Marton will field a team in the senior division. Last season the Marton senior side also won the consolation plate.
Kenny said the union was also aware of problems within the Marton club.
"Yes we were aware there was in-fighting within the Marton club. But as a consequence of them pulling out means we will have a double bye during the upcoming season. It was too late to do a complete re-draw because some clubs had already received travel funding, particularly for senior sides," Kenny said.
"We will make some alterations to the draw to ensure it's fair for each of the eight clubs remaining. It meant that Taihape, for instance, had an away game, a bye and then two more away games, which we will now make one of those a home game. Taihape and Pirates were similarly affected."
Meanwhile, a second RDO has been hired to assist Lock. She is Lesley McKenzie from Wellington who will start soon.
