MEMBERS of the Burnie Football Club will make one of the most important decisions in the 123-year history of the club tonight when the invitation to join AFL Tasmania's proposed statewide competition is put to the vote.

The Dockers board has already recommended members accept the invitation, but the vote is anything but a foregone conclusion.

The club has held a number of information nights and meetings with AFL Tasmania in the lead-up to the historic vote and club president Shane Walker said he was hopeful more than 100 of the club's membership of 200 would turn up and vote.

"We want it to be seen as a majority decision," Walker said.

The special meeting at which the vote will be taken will be held in the clubrooms at 8pm.

Walker said questions from the floor would be taken before the vote was formally put.

"There may be a few members who have not been able to make it to an information night or some who still have some unanswered queries," he said.

"This is a very important meeting and I would urge members who have a genuine interest in the future of this club to turn up and exercise their right to vote," Walker said.

Meanwhile, NTFL general manager Ian Wotherspoon has taken out a newspaper advertisement urging members of the Burnie Football Club to vote against the statewide proposal.

However, he has funded it from his own pocket as a private individual and not in his capacity as general manager of the NTFL.

The advertisement takes the form of an open letter to BFC members and is signed "Ian Wotherspoon, Penguin" (where he lives).

"Because of my position, I am aware of the facts, but I am doing this as an individual who is passionate about NTFL football and concerned about the future of football in the Burnie district," Wotherspoon said.

"I'm also doing it because I don't believe the full story is being told by AFL Tasmania and the proponents of the statewide league," he said.

"I believe the present structure of the NTFL is a good one and we should stick to it.

"I'm afraid members of the Burnie Football Club haven't been given all the facts they need to make an informed vote, especially in light of what happened in the past with the club's involvement in the previous statewide roster," he said.

In his advertisement, Wotherspoon asks about administering the new league and gives his views on travel, public support, finals venues, opportunities for players, experience and credibility of those involved with the proposal, and stability of the new competition.