STANDISH are leaving the Bolton Cricket League.

The Wigan club will be joining the Palace Shield.

They have resigned from the Bolton League who are expected to accept their resignation on Monday.

In an email to the chairman of the Lancashire Cricket Board, Bobby Denning, Bolton League secretary Ray Taylor said: "Referencing your directive earlier this year about the movement of clubs being acceptable to all parties, I will be recommending to our committee on Monday that the Bolton League accept Standish's resignation and wish them well in the Palace Shield.

"The Bolton League will still be left with 20 clubs so can develop a satisfactory two-division structure."

Standish were one of nine members of the Bolton Association to join the Bolton League this season.

The Association lost all its clubs at the end of last season and entered into a period suspension rather than fold.

Should the departure of Standish go through – as appears certain – it will leave the Bolton League with 15 clubs within the boundaries of Bolton plus Atherton, Adlington, Walkden and Little Hulton on the town's doorstep and Golborne, maintaining its status as one of the most localised professional leagues of a high standard in the country.

The League's long-term hope is to expand to 24 clubs.