A positive vote would have allowed the Cape athletic directors to take the matter to their administration, which in turn would have sought approval from their school boards.

The Cape needed a two-thirds majority to approve the merger. Of the 21 schools in the Cape-Atlantic League, nine voted in favor of the plan, eight voted against it, and the four schools that don't offer football abstained.

Conversely, this week the Tri-County Conference athletic directors voted 16-0 in favor of the merger, with three abstentions. The Tri-County has 18 football teams.

Both conferences have their schedules set for the next two years, which means the issue isn't dead yet.

"There is still plenty of time to revive this," said Clearview athletic director Greg Horton, a member of the Tri-County football committee.

Hammonton athletic director Mike Gatley, the president of the Cape Atlantic League, also said he won't have a closed mind about the issue.

"There is no doubt that this can be revived," Gatley said. "There was a lot of time and energy spent on this proposal."

If a merger isn't agreed upon, the Cape is making plans to go with two eight-team divisions for the 2010-2011 season.

Cape-Atlantic League member Bridgeton has applied to the Tri-County Conference for the 2010-2011 season and, if the application is accepted, the Cape would be down to 16 football schools.

The Tri-County athletic directors voted this week to allow Bridgeton into the conference. The next step is for the administrators of each member school to vote on the matter. If that is successful, it would be put before the school boards of those schools for approval.

or mnarducci@phillynews.com.