THE Bolton Cricket League tonight voted unanimously to accept all nine Bolton Association clubs who had applied to join them.

It brings the total of clubs in the new expanded league to 20 and ensures the league will start next season.

Adlington, Atherton, Blackrod, Darcy Lever, Daisy Hill, Golborne, Little Hulton, Lostock and Standish all applied to join the BCL after it became clear their league was certain to fold.

Their application came with the blessing of the Bolton Association committee who had tried to keep their league – the second oldest in the world – in existence and preferred to see their clubs go into a Bolton structure than the Greater Manchester Cricket League.

The meeting tonight was held at Kearsley Cricket Club and the issue of the BDCA clubs' application was the only one on the agenda.

The Bolton League are still looking to increase their number – the ideal figure would be 24.

Radcliffe, Flixton and Edgworth are still to decide whether they would prefer to join the Bolton League or the GMCL – in Radcliffe's case they could also stay in the Central Lancashire League – and an unnamed club in a league other than the Bolton Association and GMCL are also considering whether to join the Bolton League.