RYAN Ayres' recent transfer from Walkden to Farnworth Social Circle took the number of players joining new Bolton Cricket League clubs to 24.

Only nine of the League's 21 clubs have registered new players so far with the most active being Heaton, Farnworth and Kearsley who have each recruited four players.

Farnworth Social Circle appear to have strengthened an already good side with Rick Hamblett arriving as a batsman from Kearsley and all-rounder Ayres looking to build on his fine season for Walkden last season.

They have not lost any players, unlike close neighbours and rivals Farnworth who have lost regular first teamers from last season, Chris Baxendale and Curtis Anderton, to Kearsley and Little Lever, respectively.

Anderton will join up with his uncle Simon at the village side.

Farnworth have done their business early and are more than happy with the signings of Dinuka Hettiarachchi as professional, Imran Mirza – one of the top all-rounders in the League – from Heaton, the steady Iain McLellan from Tonge and Jack Horrocks from Kearsley.

The two Farnworth sides are expected to be among the top four vying for the title this season, along with Bradshaw who have strengthened well with Shahzaib Ahmed as professional, Chris Evans arriving from Greenmount and former Westhoughton player Atiq-uz-Zaman coming in as player/coach from Bramhall.

All eyes will be on any business Westhoughton might do as they contemplate losing two regular first-teamers who are currently living in Australia and may miss the Bolton League season.

The St George's Oval side are regarded as other top-four side and will be expected to strengthen.

Horwich are playing down their chances of going from near the bottom of the table last season to suddenly competing among the top clubs this year, but they have raised eyebrows with the arrival of a quality trio in Brett Pelser from Rawtenstall as professional, Liam Bones from Edenfield and Phil Ingram from Greenmount.

Full list of Bolton League signings so far:

To Atherton: Brenton Parchment as overseas player.

To Bradshaw: Shahzaib Ahmed as professional; Chris Evans from Greenmount; Atiq-uz-Zaman from Bramhall as player/coach.

To Darcy Lever: Cameron Murray.

To Heaton: Ryan Tierney from Bradshaw, Nigel Duxbury from Bradshaw, Andrew Cumberbatch from Eagley, Mark Howarth from Eagley.

To Horwich: Brett Pelser from Rawtenstall as professional; Liam Bones from Edenfield, Phil Ingram – from Greenmount.

To Farnworth: Dinuka Hettiarachchi as professional; Imran Mirza from Heaton, Iain McLellan from Tonge; Jack Horrocks from Kearsley.

To Farnworth Social Circle: Rick Hamblett from Kearsley, Ryan Ayres from Walkden.

To Kearsley: Chris Baxendale from Farnworth, Dave Morris, Faisal Zeeshan, Sam Crook.

To Little Lever: Hussain Talat as professional; Curtis Anderton from Farnworth.