Norden not guilty of smugness

CRICKET:

GREG Tattersall’s recent remarks about falling CLL standards have stirred up a hornet’s nest.

Norden’s chairman of cricket fell it necessary to defend himself on the Chronicle’s website following our story last week that his club was concerned about the lack of depth in the league.

Several readers attacked Tattersall, claiming that he was a cricketer of limited ability and should not be pointing the finger at anyone.

And the player and club official himself subsequently accused your correspondent of “stitching” him up.

Let me make my stance perfectly clear. I did not state that Tattersall made these remarks following Norden’s league triumph the weekend before last.

I wrote: “A recent league meeting saw Norden delegate Greg Tattersall voice his concern over falling standards in the league.”

This was reported on the league minutes and is a matter of public record.

In no way was I implying that Norden, and Tattersall in particular, were in any way gloating as some contributors to our website seem to believe.

Tattersall’s remarks were made before Norden won the league title for a second successive year and he actually gave the same views at last season’s annual meeting of the CLL which I attended.

Norden pushed for a two-division CLL, but the majority of members clubs voted against the proposal.

For what it’s worth – and this shows that I have no desire to “stitch up” Tattersall - I completely agree with him.

The standard in the CLL has been in steady decline for years and a two-division structure is long overdue if a more level playing field is to be established.

Clubs with serious money issues cannot hope to compete against the likes of Norden, with their strong member base and financial clout.

Look at many other leagues – professional and amateur – and there are elite divisions. It is just the way sport evolves these days.

At a local level, this newspaper has backed the formation of a Greater Manchester Premier League and will continue to do so.

Norden have indicated that they have been approached – albeit by an unofficial source – to be members of such a set-up.

They told the CLL of this approach and that is to their credit.

In being honest with the league, they have the right to voice their concern that the CLL is not as competitive as it used to be.

Sometimes the truth hurts, but it needs to be said.