GREENMOUNT have become the first club from the Bolton Cricket League to apply to join the Greater Manchester League.

The Bury-based club voted to move at a meeting on Tuesday night.

The Bolton Association are also set to lose a second club to the GMCL after its players voted to switch leagues at a meeting on the same night.

Walshaw's committee are expected to confirm the decision this weekend.

Their move will make it two clubs deciding to move from the Association to the GMCL following Astley and Tyldesley last week.

More are expected to follow although it is unclear how many. Bury Cricket Club meet on Thursday night to discuss their decision when it is likely they will vote in favour of moving to the GMCL.

The Greenmount decision came as something of a surprise and is a big boost to the GMCL as the Bury club are probably the highest quality team of the 20 to join them so far and on a par with most top sides in the North West.

Greenmount announced the decision on their twitter feed on Tuesday night when it posted: "Happy to confirm the rumours that the players and members present last night voted unanimously to join @GtrMcrCricket."

Ray Taylor, secretary of the Bolton League, said: "On behalf of the Bolton League, I would like to wish Greenmount all the best in the Greater Manchester Cricket League.

"The club have been with us since 1984 and have always been a credit to the Bolton League.

"The Bolton League management committee will make a decision in the near future whether or not to advertise for a replacement for Greenmount before or after the decision to expand the league at the meeting on 8th June."

Walshaw chairman David Leach said the prospect of promotion and relegation was a major reason behind his club's players' desire to move to the GMCL.

He said: "The outcome of the senior players is they want to join the Greater Manchester pyramid.

"They want to play progressive cricket, that's what they want to go for.

"They are very much in favour of promotion and relegation. At the end of the day all senior cricketers want to play competitive cricket.

"We will have two or three days' cooling off period and see if it fits well with the club and fits well with the juniors.

"We will make a decision at the end of this weekend and it's likely to be the Greater Manchester pyramid.

"It's not an easy decision to leave the Bolton Association. They have been good with us."