GM proposals go back to the clubs

The Greater Manchester cricket league prospectus was unveiled at Emirates Old Trafford last night and puts the future of the proposals firmly in the hands of club and league officials.

The 84-page document gives details of the way a pyramid-style competition would work, from the make-up of the divisions, playing rules and conditions, to discipline and the junior structure.

GM steering group chairman Martin Kay asked more than 70 clubs present to discuss the information with their members.

In what would be the biggest shake-up of local league cricket ever seen in Great Manchester, it could see the end of many long-established competitions. Expressions of interest or applications for season 2016 would have to be made by June 30.

A major sponsorship contract has been lined up to support the league, and such a deal would mean no joining/annual admission fee for clubs.

The elite division would be open - which means all players could be paid, not just the professional.

Other key points:

LEAGUE AND CUP COMPETITIONS

::A pyramid system of 12 teams per division, with four-up and four-down promotion and relegation from the geographical sections rising up to the elite division.

::All league matches to take place on Saturdays, with top three divisions playing 50 overs per side.

::1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs in one competition, but 2nds and 3rd teams would not be allowed to play in the same division or above their own club’s 1st XI.

::No final decision on division names yet.

::An under-21s division with matches taking place on Sundays.

::Range of options for cup competitions, two of which could be based on former league membership and across the whole league composition.

::Twenty20 competition to be played on weekday evenings early season or in August, or groups festivals on free Sundays or Bank Holidays.



CRITERIA — WHERE WILL MY CLUB START

::Clubs subject to five-stage test, based on playing performance, playing surface, facilities, spectator and ancillary facilities and each league management committee scoring their clubs as an overall package.



JUNIORS

::Split into four zones with Oldham and Tameside placed together to ensure ease of travelling and provide enough teams to make competition viable.

::League games in May, June and July, with play-offs taking place against other GM zones in September to enable the best players to compete against each other.

::A midweek Twenty20 competition for under-18 teams.



DISCIPLINE

::Responsibility of clubs to act.

::A tariff-based system.

::Captains and players’ code of conduct.

::THE full prospectus can be viewed by visiting: gmccl.leaguerepublic.



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