MIKE Hall has resigned as chairman of the Bolton Cricket League.

He informed the league and clubs of his decision today.

His position was put in doubt by the decision of Egerton – where he is club secretary – to resign from the league and join the Greater Manchester League.

Mr Hall, aged 60, was elected chairman of the league for the second time in 2012 and previously held the position between 1998 and 2005.

He was Egerton's league representative at 18 and has fulfilled that role for 36 of the last 42 years.

Mr Hall is one of the key members of the steering group of the Greater Manchester League which has threatened the existence of the Bolton League. It has also caused the Bolton Association – the second oldest cricket league in the world – to fold at the end of this season.

As the Bolton League made it clear they intended to fight the threat to them posed by the GML, Mr Hall's position in having key roles in both leagues began to look untenable.

When Egerton voted to leave the Bolton League his involvement with the main committee in taking the BCL forward was effectively ended.

He was told he was not due to chair their next meeting at Kearsley on Monday night and he informed them he would consider his position as chairman over the weekend.

He told The Bolton News yesterday: "I am in conversation with officials of the league at the moment regarding the position of chairman.”

This morning he decided not to wait to inform the league and clubs and delivered his letter of resignation which he also gave to The Bolton News with permission to use it.

It reads: "Dear all,

"As you will be aware the cricket club I have been involved with for many years has decided to resign from the Bolton Cricket League and start a new chapter in its history next season.

"This decision has been made by the membership of the club and is one that has an impact on my chairmanship of the Bolton Cricket League.

"I first sat on the Bolton League committee when I was 18, when meetings were held at Burnden Park, and since then with the exception of a period of six years I have played an active role in the management of the league and for a period of 11 years I have been proud to serve as chairman.

The Bolton League will maintain its position as a strong league in the county and with the decision to expand, which is something that I have worked hard to achieve along with my old friend Derek Kay. I am sure the league will continue to flourish.

"A word of advice, when you decide on Monday which clubs to accept into the fold, I would be saying don’t just subject those new clubs to a set of standards and criteria, also apply those standards to the long established clubs in the league.

"Expansion of the Bolton Cricket League was never for me just about promotion and relegation it was also about improving standards on and off the field and we all know that there is much work to do.

"Take the opportunity to look forward and challenge the norm because what matters is that clubs continue to improve and remain in business.

"So as you can see I have had a choice, Bolton League or Egerton Cricket Club and as I have always said the league is only a means to allow clubs to play cricket. It is the clubs that matter, so in reality I have no choice but to resign as your chairman.

"Many thanks for the support that you have all given me over the years and the warm welcome that I have received at all of the clubs and whatever the future brings we remain friends.

Best wishes

Mike"