Bobby Denning, the managing director of the Lancashire Cricket Board, responds to an article by Roy Cavanagh which appeared in The Bolton News on Monday, and gives an insight into the role of the Lancashire Cricket Board during a period when local cricket is facing the prospect of major changes in the Bolton and Greater Manchester area

I WRITE in response to an article written by Roy Cavanagh (which appeared in The Bolton News on Monday, December 22).

I wish to address some of the inaccuracies, whilst accepting Roy's previous knowledge and involvement in league cricket in the Bolton area.

Approximately 12 months ago, and during on-going changes at leadership level, we set out to engage with all of our leagues and bring the cricket network together.

The article refers to when Ken Standring left the Lancashire Cricket Board (LCB).

Ken has never left the LCB and remains an active, influential board director in a new efficient and more effective committee structure, agreed on at the 2014 annual general meeting.

Local issues in Greater Manchester at the time stemmed mainly from certain leagues expanding and a lack of engagement with LCB, resulting in four cricket clubs having no league to play in.

On my appointment as managing director, my priority was to ensure this did not happen again, resulting in the GM Leagues coming together.

From the outset, our role has been to facilitate and lead on all recreational cricket matters with all of our leagues.

We have two full-time staff employed within the clubs and leagues department to carry out this role.

During this league engagement process, discussions started around the potential for new structures.

Those attending the meetings were keen to take the lead, resulting in the steering group being established for the proposed Greater Manchester League.

The LCB will not facilitate or lead on any steering group meetings or the working group meetings, and will be involved to support and advise only.

This is no different to attending league meetings to offer other support and advice on any matter.

Only time will tell on what comes from the work the steering group is undertaking.

I assure you the LCB will support and respect the end result, whatever this may be.

We will do so with confidence, knowing that engagement has taken place and a thorough process to ensure the right outcome, based on what the clubs want.

Now we are at the end of the year, it is always good to look back and I do so with enthusiasm.

I would encourage anyone to read about the comprehensive work we undertake, as well as our associations, on our detailed LCB website at www.lancashirecricket.co.uk.

I personally feel we communicate with all of the recreational game better than we have ever done.

Our working relationship with the county club and foundation has never been better, underpinned by our MOU [memorandum of understanding].

The LCB has performed exceptionally well in recent times, there have been challenges but we have coped admirably.

We appreciate there will be mixed opinion from time to time on matters for discussion, and this is healthy.

We will constantly strive to be “the best in the business of developing cricket” across the county.

I look forward to 2015.

Bobby Denning

Managing Director

Lancashire Cricket Board