Clubs vote for CLL shake-up

Roelof van der Merwe: Chosen to play in the Indian Premier League.

CLUBS in the Lake Garage CLL have voted 14-2 for a change of format to the existing 16-strong league.

And the next step will be the formation of a steering committee to explore the possibility of giving the league a new look.

They are likely to centre on the existing 16 clubs and perhaps creating two divisions with promotion and relegation to inject a more competitive element.

There are also clubs who would like to attract new members and increase the size of the CLL, but also involving a two-division format.

The steering committee will draw up a list of proposals and they will then be put before clubs.

THE CLL is still facing a shortage of umpires with the panel for 2009 standing at 37, of which one third are only part-time officials.

And with 32 umpires required for each round of fixtures, there is little leeway.

It was a similar story last season with umpires secretary Neville Fletcher having to perform a juggling act.

Out of 1,200 appointments, Mr Fletcher only failed to find an umpire for eight fixtures when there was only one official instead of two.

He explained it is important for clubs to have a qualified umpire who can step in as cover in an emergency.


OLDHAM have had to begin a search for a new professional after losing Chinthaka Jayasinghe who they had signed up for the 2009 season.

Jayasinghe will be unable to fulfil his contract at The Pollards as he has been selected to play for Sri Lanka in the Twenty20 World Cup.

Werneth could also lose South African professional Roelof van der Merwe who has been selected to play in the Indian Premier League.

But with doubts whether the IPL will take place because of terrorism on the sub-continent, the situation is changing daily.


WERNETH’S Howard Dronsfield, who recently stood down as CLL chairman after five years, has been elected a life member of the league, as has Walsden’s Allan Stuttart.

Littleborough’s Gary Sewell has filled the vacancy to become vice-chairman of the league.




ADMISSION prices for the 2009 CLL season are to remain unchanged at £3 for adults and £1.50 concessions for league matches.

Wood Cup admission will be £4 and £2, respectively, with the final £5 and £2.50.

The final of the Burton Cup will cost £3 and £1.50 while the Twenty20 competition stay at £2 and £1.


AFTER CLL officials failed in a bid to find a new sponsor for the league for the 2009 season, Lake Garage have agreed to extend its backing for a further 12 months.


THE new campaign may not yet have started, but league officials have already finalised the arrangements for their end-of-season dinner. It will take place on Friday, November 13 at Milnrow.


THE CLL will play the Lancashire League away in two friendly fixtures on Monday, May 25 at senior and under-18 level.