Crompton threaten 20-twenty boycott

CROMPTON are threatening to quit the CLL’S John Willie Lees Twenty/20 Competition in a row over their geographic grouping.

The Glebe Street club is unhappy at not being in the same section as Oldham, Royton and Werneth.

Though neighbours Milnrow are in their group, Crompton also have Walsden and Littleborough in their section.

“It is a massive journey for us to get to Walsden for six o’clock on a Friday. If we are not relocated, we will decline the invitation to play next year,” explained Crompton league delegate Glen Dawson.

Crompton claim they were originally placed with the other Oldham teams, but Ashton declined their invite because of the travel involved.

This resulted in Ashton being put in with Werneth, Oldham and Royton while Crompton were the ones to lose out.

BOB DEARDEN, the CLL under-18s manager, has accused the league’s management committee of a “cop out” over a proposed rule change.

They are proposing home-produced players like Steven Cheetham, Chris Schofield and Tom Hardman, who go on to play county cricket, can still turn out for their clubs, but only until until the age of 23.

Dearden pointed out that Lancashire and England’s James Anderson is still permitted to play for Burnley, where he learned his craft, while other leagues also allow county players to return to their roots.

“We allow overseas amateur and ‘shamateurs’ to play in our league, but not our own lads. I think the new rule is a cop out,” said Dearden.