Central Lancashire Cricket League in merger talks with the Lancashire League

Photo: Journeaux

Action from the Central Lancashire Cricket League

The Central Lancashire Cricket League (CLL) has received a “positive” response to a request for talks with the Lancashire Cricket League about a possible merger of the two.

In the meantime CLL officials are actively involved in talks to create a possible pyramid system in the Greater Manchester area.

Three CLL officials recently attended a 'pyramid' meeting at Old Trafford where league chairman Neville Fletcher made a presentation which was well received.

On Thursday (27 November) he was told that Lancashire League officials had been given a mandate by their clubs to sit down and talk about what a merger could mean. Three officials from each league will now meet.

Following the CLL’s annual general meeting on Friday (28 November), Mr Fletcher said there had been some misconceptions about what had been going on.

He said: “The CLL has always been available to attend all pyramid system meetings which they have been invited to, and we recently attended a meeting during which we remedied some of those misconceptions.

“There have been reports that a pyramid could see the end of the CLL, but it would seem most of the leagues involved want to preserve their identity in some way.”

A steering committee has now been formed with representatives from the six major leagues in the area, and another meeting will be held early next month.

Then came news from the Lancashire League, with a response to a request mandated by CLL club delegates in October.

Retiring CLL secretary Alan Wright said: “I wouldn’t like people to think that the Lancashire League clubs have agreed to join us. There has been a warm reception to our request for talks, and talks will be held. The final say on what happens will be with the clubs.”

Mr Fletcher said the CLL would continue to explore all options and added: “If any changes have to be made they should be changes which, in my opinion, should be to the benefit of all clubs who will ultimately decide what happens.”