THE Bolton and District Cricket Association say concerns expressed to them from former clubs about high cost, travel and umpires in their new leagues is the reason they are attempting to reform.

The oldest league in Lancashire entered a period of suspension rather than fold when they lost all their clubs to the Greater Manchester League and the Bolton League after the 2015 season.

The Association are one of the oldest leagues in the world and its most famous competition – the Cross Cup – has been revived this season with 15 clubs taking part.

Now their four-man suspension committee say they will reform the league for next season if there is enough interest from clubs to join.

They announced their intention via The Bolton News nine days ago, saying they were motivated to try to reform by the encouraging comments they received at a meeting of former clubs at Little Hulton Cricket Club for the setting up of the new Cross Cup competition.

The Association's suspension committee say the comments they received from some of their former clubs centred around the high cost and amount of travelling involved in being in their new leagues.

The committee say another of the gripes raised by clubs concerns the mounting cost of running a club due especially to players' fees and expenses that were needed to compete.

Others were the distance being travelled by second teams, the lack of umpires and concerns at what had happened to the Bolton Association.

They explained they would look to restart the league in 2018 if there was sufficient interest, claiming they would be able to provide affordable, competitive cricket at local club level.

They point out they already have all the trophies, ample funds, and experienced officers who would be willing to put in place the wishes of the clubs.

They promise not to have any league fees at least for the first year, that sponsorship would be divided between the clubs and that the rules would be agreed by the clubs which would allow them to spend what they could afford.

In a statement, they said: “In our opinion over the past three years league cricket in Lancashire has descended into a free-for-all shambles, with league against league and club against club.

“Our hope is to try and give an opportunity to clubs that wish to return to the values experienced pre-2014."

Anyone interested in the Association's plans can contact Peter Crook at e.mail pajcrook@yahoo.co.uk or on 01942 515595 or 07760 917571.