AS big changes continue to happen in local cricket league structures throughout Lancashire, the ex-chairman of the Bolton and District Cricket Association, Frank Jackson, gives his opinion on whether it is all worth it

IN the late 1980s to early 1990s the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) pushed for a Premier League system in Lancashire.

This caused alarm bells to ring and a meeting of the senior cricket leagues was called.

They met and formed the Confederation of Lancashire Cricket Leagues (CLCL).

A deputation from this body, led by the chairman of the Lancashire League, went to Old Trafford and “politely” explained that league cricket in Lancashire was in good shape, constantly providing players both for county and country.

The deputation said they did not need nor want a premier league system and was not prepared under any circumstances to support it.

The ECB and Lancashire settled for making the Northern League a premier league and left the clubs of the CLCL to carry on running league cricket.

Its job done, the CLCL disbanded some years later.

All went well until 2013 when, due to the Manchester and District Cricket Association folding, some clubs had to look for a league to play in.

The Lancashire Cricket Board (LCB) called a meeting at which they floated the idea of a premier league pyramid in Greater Manchester.

They then called and facilitated meetings to discuss this idea and eventually supported the formation of the Greater Manchester Cricket League (GMCL).

Of the five senior leagues involved only the Lancashire County League joined the GMCL, the other four chose to remain independent, but all lost clubs to the GMCL.

So what is the result of the formation of the GMCL? The Bolton and District Cricket Association went into suspension, having lost nine clubs to the GMCL, the remaining nine joined the Bolton Cricket League which will play this coming season with a less than satisfactory two divisions of 10 clubs each, despite efforts to increase their numbers.

The Central Lancashire League and Sadddleworth League, both having lost clubs, decided to amalgamate and formed the Pennine League of two divisions.

They now look like losing five clubs to the expanding Lancashire Cricket League (LCL). Where will this leave them?

The GMCL may also lose Egerton to the LCL.

Yes, Egerton, who together with Greenmount, left the Bolton League possibly having been persuaded by the people pushing for the formation of the GMCL.

One year seems to have been enough.

Away from Greater Manchester, the LCL decided to expand, causing problems for the Northern League and Ribblesdale League, the latter of which will lose clubs to the LCL.

The Northern League and Palace Shield Competition have agreed a promotion and relegation system between them.

Only the Liverpool Competition, incidentally a Premier League, remains untouched.

If someone had deliberately set out to cause chaos to league cricket in Lancashire, they could not have done a better job.

The above was all overseen by the LCB who are now meeting leagues in an effort to either persuade them not to expand at the expense of others or assure leagues they will do everything to protect their existence.

When the LCB decided to support the formation of the GMCL I wrote an article published in the Bolton News entitled: “Is the solution worse than the problem?” My answer now to that question would definitely be yes.

So, I now ask: “Has league cricket in Lancashire descended into a shambles?”.

Or, if the answer is yes, perhaps more to the point: “Who is responsible?”