The Victorian Country Football League yesterday recommended that five teams from the Lexton Plains league - Carngham-Linton, Illabarook, Lexton, Rokewood-Corindhap and Skipton - join the existing 14-club CHFL structure.

As expected, the VCFL panel which carried out the review also recommended the remaining LPFL teams move to the Maryborough Castlemaine District and Mininera District leagues - Navarre and Natte-Bealiba to the MCDFL and Ararat Eagles to the MDFL.

Trentham, which had been touted as another possible addition to the CHFL, is set to remain in Maryborough Castlemaine District. The LPFL was eager to see Navarre join the CHFL as well. However, the Grasshoppers are now resigned to not get their wish. The CHFL yesterday embraced the VCFL recommendations.

It had expressed a desire it only wished to admit Carngham-Linton, Illabarook, Lexton, Rokewood-Corindhap and Skipton from a disbanded LPFL and preferred a one-tier competition rather than two divisions.

VCFL south-west area manager Brett Anderson said all clubs seeking new homes now had to apply for transfers to the leagues they wished to join.

"The VCFL doesn't deal with anything now.

"It's all dealt with by the leagues.

"The only time we'd get involved would be if there was an appeal," Anderson said.

He said this process had to be completed by October 31.