CLL to go it alone following pyramid pull-out

THE Lake Garage CLL has withdrawn from all talks on proposals for a Greater Manchester pyramid cricket league.

CLL clubs can still apply individually to join the GM set-up if it happens, though the majority of club delegates – including those from Oldham – have backed the latest CLL stance.

Clubs who didn't back the immediate pull-out – including Werneth – wanted to delay a vote on the issue until the proposed GM League had produced a prospectus on April 30. The CLL will invite new clubs to join the league in the 2016 season.

Documents indicate the criteria which will be used for the placement of clubs who apply to join the new set-up.

A suggestion was that each league would grade its own clubs, but CLL officials weren’t in favour as it felt such a system could be open to abuse.

CLL chairman Neville Fletcher, addressing delegates on what had happened in GM meetings to date, claimed there had been a "well oiled propaganda machine in full flow, hell bent on achieving its aims."

He added: "To the CLL this is a deadly serious business. It appears to be an intention of the GM League steering group to extinguish leagues which have existed for more than 120 years, and I don't see any benefits for CLL clubs in a new set-up.

"My view is that there would be no improvement on what we already have."

Mr Fletcher pointed out that two other leagues had previously withdrawn from talks – the Bolton Association and the Greater Manchester Amateur League. The Bolton League is expected to follow suit.