EGERTON have decided not to join the Lancashire League.

The Bolton club applied and were accepted to join the league but last night opted to remain in the Greater Manchester League.

Egerton were one of six clubs to be accepted into the Lancashire League from 2018.

The other five were all from the Pennine League on the east side of Manchester.

Four of those were last night reported to have accepted the Lancashire League’s offer to join with the other due to meet tonight.

Had Egerton accepted it would have been their second move in three years after leaving the Bolton League to become founder members of the Greater Manchester League last year.

The issue was first discussed by Egerton’s members at its annual general meeting.

It was then left to the Blackburn Road club’s committee who decided to apply.

After a delegation from the Lancashire League inspected the club and its facilities an offer was made to join.

The club’s committee met again last night to make a final decision when they opted to remain in the Greater Manchester League.

Egerton team manager, Dave Tattersall, said the decision was a difficult one to make because of the huge appeal of both options.

“The Greater Manchester League is a very good league and in the end it came down to that,” he said.

“It’s a huge decision because the Lancashire League is going to be a very good league, the standard of cricket is good and the crowds are good.

“It appealed to us because of the proximity of the M65 but in the end the general consensus at the committee meeting was to stay where we are.

“It is the best of two very good options.”

Egerton are current champions of the GMCL Premier Division, having won the Bolton League in their final season.