North Melbourne isn’t going anywhere and will be around for “another 150 years”, the club’s CEO and chairman have pledged.

In a statement issued to fans today, chairman Ben Buckley and CEO Ben Amarfio confirmed the club was in a “fight for survival” but would come out the other side.

“Our club has been in the news lately, and while the reason was completely out of our control and unfortunate in the current climate, it’s been truly pleasing to see the overwhelming response from our members and supporters, and even those not associated directly with the club, who have come out to support us,” they said.

“Regardless of who is saying what and why, we must realise we are all in a fight for survival right now, and the league itself is facing an unprecedented challenge to come out of the shutdown with enough strength and wherewithal to continue on.

“While we’re extremely confident we will all withstand the damage being inflicted upon us by COVID-19, now is not the time to be talking about mergers, relocations and vulnerable clubs – we are all at risk and must come together to fight for the existence of our game as we once knew it.”

The statement comes days after journalist Caroline Wilson reported North Melbourne would be relocated to Tasmania.

The story was met with backlash from a number of ex-Kangaroos and media identities who questioned the accuracy and timing of the reports, with Wilson then labelling some of those as “bullies”.

“It’s disappointing at a time like this when there’s already so many challenges for the wider football community and the community in general that some negativity is raised and disappointing to be in the middle of that as a player at North Melbourne,” North star Shaun Higgins said on SEN.

In the statement issued Thursday, Buckley and Amarfio confirmed that discussions had been underway with Tasmanian authorities, but to provide the state with “top-line football content” and “creating talent pathways”.

“We are not alone in this. Our club is hurting, but so too are the businesses of hundreds of thousands of Australians across the country,” the duo said in a statement.

“We have been around for more than 150 years and we will be around for another 150 years and more. Our club was built on resilience and an insatiable desire to succeed. Adversity has never stopped us before and it won’t stop us now – it will only make us stronger.”