WESTHOUGHTON Cricket Club have signed ex-Lancashire player Oliver Newby, nine months after he was not allowed to play for them by the Bolton League.

The 30-year-old seam bowler was released by Lancashire a few days ago after spending 12 years at Old Trafford and immediately registered for his local Bolton League club.

Westhoughton tried to sign him last January but the move was blocked by the league because he was a current professional county player.

He would only have been able to play for Westhoughton when he was not on county duty and it is understood the league did not want to set a precedent that would see clubs recruiting county players to play mainly in important games and risk distorting the outcome of the championship.

But with Newby now not connected to a county that obstacle would appear to have been taken away.

Westhoughton announced the marquee signing on their official Twitter account, posting: "Westhoughton CC are proud to announce the signing of Oliver Newby. @newbytime welcome to the club!"

In January, Newby agreed to turn out for Westhoughton as an amateur.

But the move was blocked by the Bolton League rules and competitions committee, citing rule 13a, which stops players from turning out for a club when they are also registered to a club in another league.