Quartet pushing for CLL overhaul

CRICKET:

Four local clubs in the Lake Garage CLL reckon it’s time for a change.

Norden’s proposal for a two-division CLL in 2013 was rejected at the league’s annual meeting.

The Woodhouse Lane outfit suggested two divisions of eight clubs, with teams in the same division playing each other twice and clubs in separate divisions meeting once.

That would have produced 22 fixtures instead of the current 30, and promotion and relegation would have been based on league placings.

The subject is up for discussion again at the March meeting of league delegates. That get-together will see suggestions for the future of the league put forward by a special CLL steering committee.

And, if a format can be thrashed out, a two-division CLL could, after all, become a reality in 2013.

There is definitely a groundswell of opinion among league clubs that changes have to be made.

Accusations that the CLL is stuck in a time warp have been made publicly and, perhaps more frequently, in private. But, quite naturally, member clubs are concerned about the impact any change to the league format would produce.

Royton spokesman Bernard Wade: “We are in favour of change, definitely, but we did not vote for this latest proposal because of the loss of home fixtures.

“We would have lost four home first-team games and we need the income they generate. There is sponsorship, bar income and advertising to consider. We need match-day activity.

“If you were an advertiser at the ground, would you really want to pay when there are fewer games and fewer people seeing your adverts?

“We feel there is the need for a change in the CLL — perhaps it can be opened up to other clubs — but we don’t want to lose home fixtures.”

Oldham’s Paul Thompson said: “We did not vote for the Norden proposal, but that doesn’t mean to say that we are against the idea of two divisions. I know if it came in at the moment we would end up in the second division, but things do need to change.

“I would like to see two divisions of 10 teams which would mean the league bringing in some new clubs. There are too many fixtures at present. We have lost players because of that.

“Several have gone to Saddleworth League clubs because there are fewer fixtures — particularly on Sundays — and we might not have lost them had there been fewer matches.”

Crompton skipper Carl Taylor said: “I can see both sides of the argument.

“Obviously, two divisions would make it more competitive and teams would have something to play for towards the end of the season. But my view is that you have different players in different seasons and some times you have a better team than in other years so you could end up in the wrong division for the strength of your team. We have not had a strong team recently, but next year we expect to be much more competitive. It’s difficult for the league and there’s a lot to consider.”

Werneth cricket chairman Adie McMahon said: “We voted for the proposal at the AGM. In the last few years we have been a mid-table side so we would have had something to play for, whether it be promotion or trying to avoid relegation. We are not lacking ambition and would like to be a top-three club, but we also want competitive cricket and this would have brought it.

“Having said that, we don’t want to lose fixtures so the only way I can see that happening is the introduction of a round-robin first-round of the Wood Cup, and it would be hard to see both ideas going through in one go.”