THE future of the world's oldest cricket cup – the Bolton Association's Cross Cup – is in doubt.

With the Association – the second oldest cricket league in the world – going out of existence at the end of this season, the destination of its most precious asset is uncertain.

The Cross Cup was first played for in the Association's first season in 1889, a year after the world's oldest cricket league – the Birmingham and District Cricket League – played its first season.

It has been played for every year since apart from a six-year break during the Second World War.

Flixton became the last-ever winners of the Cross Cup as a Bolton Association competition on Sunday when they beat Blackrod at Little Hulton.

With nine Association clubs joining the Bolton Cricket League from next season it was hoped the transition of the Cross Cup to the BCL – which was formed when 10 clubs broke away from the Association in 1930 – would be seamless.

But a lack of agreement between the two leagues' executive committees over how the Cross Cup should be used in the new expanded Bolton League has cast lingering doubt over its future.

Both parties appear to be happy for it to be used in the long term as the cup which goes to the winners of the BCL's second division.

But as there will not be two divisions next season in the expanded league that cannot happen for one year.

Another option mentioned has been to use it as the prize for a new Twenty20 competition the BCL will introduce next year, but that is something some Association committee members are understood to be strongly against.

The Bolton League are still to finalise their competition structure after which they will have a firm idea of the options available.

The Association are not willing to hand over the trophy unless they are satisfied it will be used in a manner they believe befits its history and status.

It has even been mentioned privately that the cup could be offered to the Lord's museum unless the uncertainty can be ended and agreement reached.

But that is not something anybody appears to want to happen with all parties in agreement they want it to remain in Bolton cricket.

Blackrod's captain Chris Sanderson echoed the views of many ahead of Sunday's final when he said: "I hope the Bolton League and Bolton Association powers-that-be can come to some amicable agreement, and I would encourage them to do so.

"I would love to see the Cross Cup continue to be played for, but it would need to be played for in the right way."

Some officials at the Bolton League appear to be keen on giving the Cross Cup a prestigious position. It has even been mentioned within League circles about making it the biggest prize – for the top division league title.

And some officials within the Association are understood to be happy for the trophy to be given a year off as long as it ends up being the prize for a prestigious competition.