Shake-up sooner rather than later

CRICKET: 

NIGEL Stock, captain of reigning Saddleworth and District Cricket League champions Glodwick, says a Greater Manchester league can’t come soon enough.

Individuals from more than 50 clubs met at Old Trafford to discuss bringing the 10 leagues in Greater Manchester together in one competition.

Bobby Denning, managing director of the Lancashire Cricket Board, described it as a “big morning for recreational cricket in the county”.

Clubs listened to Martin Kay, chairman of the North Manchester League, and his opposite number at the Bolton League, Mike Hall, on the need of a new structure and ideas on how it could work.

“I thought it was all very positive,” said Stock. “I don’t think there any negatives at all. I know some of the people involved in the process and they are doing it for the love of cricket. That’s driving it forward.

“It has got to happen. I haven’t talked to anybody who is against it yet. I think it will happen and it will happen quite quickly.

The example shown the clubs featured an elite division - made up of clubs from across Greater Manchester - followed by two senior divisions offering promotion.

After that, four first divisions set up geographically, would provide the chance to go up, along with six second divisions with opportunities for promotion. Each division would consist of 12 teams.