BOLTON Cricket League secretary Ray Taylor says it would not have been right for his league to argue the case against junior football's change to a summer season alone.

The Bolton League has received criticism for not making a statement so far on the Bolton, Bury and District Football League's plans which would see junior football run simultaneously with its cricket counterpart and threaten participation in local cricket.

The BCL feel it was unfair criticism, maintaining it was not right for them to act independently on the matter as a summer football season would also affect up to six other cricket leagues in the area.

All those leagues come under the governance of the Lancashire Cricket Board whom the BCL believe would be the correct body to take up the matter on their behalf.

The Bolton, Bury and District Football League plan to change from the traditional winter season to March-to-October with a break for the school summer holidays from next year.

They are doing it to eradicate the problem of regular postponements and to ensure their 8,500 junior players will play on better surfaces.

It means their season will run simultaneously with junior cricket, an issue many people believe will threaten the number of people participating in cricket at junior and eventually senior level.

The BCL informed the LCB of their concerns last week and it was discussed at a meeting of the county's recreational sub-committee on Monday night when LCB managing director Bobby Denning agreed to meet with the Lancashire Football Association.

Now the BCL have concluded what they believed was the correct procedure, Mr Taylor has given his own views on the matter.

He told The Bolton News: "We have to be mindful that football and cricket are county-wide sports, and therefore the local area should not be taken in isolation. The lead has to come at national or county level.

"Summer sports, including cricket, should be sympathetic to the problems experienced by junior football with the weather.

"Though football has to be careful young players don't see it only as a summer sport and then baulk at the change to less favourable conditions as they get older and then drop out of the game completely.

"The impact on other sports must be taken into consideration. Few sports can afford a drop in player participation, and, when it comes to funding, Sport England will not be fooled into thinking extra registrations equate to actually playing the game.

"Arrangements must take travelling time into consideration. It is likely more than one sport will be played on the same day and some sports are not conducive to being played on a hot summer afternoon – especially by children.

"The days and times when training and practice sessions take place – as well as matches – have to be agreed, and limited if necessary.

"Grounds and playing fields need time to recover, particularly where winter and summer sports are played at the same venue.

"A six-to-eight week break is essential, and it would benefit everyone if football were to take this in May and June when most young people are taking exams of one sort or another.

"Darker evenings from early August onwards mean it is impossible to play a junior cricket match lasting up to three hours.

"Sporting organisations have to take educational pressures into consideration, along with the impact on parents, especially single parents and parents without transport along with non-playing siblings.

“We appreciate Kevin Davies's involvement, and hope all junior football and cricket leagues will be included in the discussions.”