CLL warned of ‘harmful’ policy

BOBBY CROSS: CLL should play a leading role in changes

Cricket: A TOP Lake Garage CLL player is concerned that the league is pursuing a potentially harmful policy of recruitment rather than engaging in wider discussions on the future of cricket in Greater Manchester.

Heywood stalwart Bobby Cross, one of the leading amateur batsmen in the CLL for over a decade, also believes more member clubs should join the debate over plans for introducing a new structure across the county.

Cross attended Saturday’s meeting at Emirates Old Trafford in which over 50 clubs from 10 leagues were represented in talks about cricket at local level.

An Evening Chronicle report outlined the meeting’s desire to establish a new cricketing network across Greater Manchester with an elite division and a pyramid league based on the strength of teams, plus geographical considerations to keep travelling to a minimum.

Cross believes the plans are well worth exploring instead of the CLL choosing its own course - admittedly at the urging of many of its clubs.

Next season Heyside and Elton will swell the CLL’s numbers to 18 clubs. The CLL had hoped to attract more, but several applications were rejected due to inadequate facilities.

The league’s annual meeting later this month will decide whether to advertise for more clubs for 2016.

Cross said: “While every other league in the discussions has agreed to sit tight and engage in this process, the CLL is again asking clubs to vote on whether it should invite new teams. Such invitations potentially harm other leagues and go against the co-operative principle espoused at the meeting.”

Cross is also concerned about stay-away CLL clubs and officials: “Worryingly there were no attendees from the CLL management committee and only eight of last season’s 16 CLL teams were represented,” he added. “Does this mean the CLL doesn’t want to be part of a wider discussion about the future?”