Change would be a ‘huge’ task

LCB chief on local cricket’s burning issue

ANDY Hayhurst, director of the Lancashire Cricket Board, said it would take a “huge amount of work” to form a premier league.

The need to make cricket more competitive has prompted calls for an overhaul of the local scene, with leagues joining forces to create a promotion and relegation scenario.

Such a system is in place in Liverpool and another has been approved involving the Northern League.

Hayhurst sympathises with clubs in the area who find it difficult to compete financially with others and those who are left chasing minor honours year in, year out.

And although he says a Lancashire or Greater Manchester premier league is still a long way down the road, he admits the idea has been discussed by the LCB.

Hayhurst said: “It’s about improving standards in cricket and identifying players in the leagues who are capable of developing and playing at a higher level.

“We can do that already with the system that we’ve got in place.

“What we don’t want to do is dismantle the structure of traditional leagues with great history, set up a premier league and in time find standards are no better — that would be a disaster.”

But Hayhurst believes the premier league system, which has the support of the former England captain Mike Gatting, who is the ECB’s managing director of cricket partnerships, has its plus points.

Hayhurst said: “It would take a huge amount of work.

“There are nearly 240 clubs in Greater Manchester, which is twice as many as in the whole of Lancashire.

“There is also a lot to consider. Not all clubs would welcome the change, we would have to accommodate second teams and the standard of facilities would need looking at.

“But it also has it merits, with promotion and relegation being one of them, which keeps the season going longer for some clubs.

“And if clubs do come flying at us wanting change, then it’s something we would ultimately have to look at.”


BAMFORD Fieldhouse, from the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League, suffered an agonising exit in round two of the LCB Cup

Paddy McKeown’s side lost by one run at Ramsbottom, who are riding high in the Lancashire League.

Requiring 167 for victory, Bamford were bowled out for 166 after Andy Smith-Butler was run out for 11 off the penultimate ball of the match.

Marlon Black was unbeaten on 25 for Bamford.