THE future existence of the Bolton League and Bolton Association is in doubt as moves to create a new Greater Manchester League gain pace.

Plans are under discussion for a radical new local cricket structure which could see clubs from up to 10 leagues in the area come together.

Clubs from all the leagues around Greater Manchester – including the two in Bolton – met at Emirates Old Trafford last Saturday to discuss the possibility of a new super-sized set-up.

The plan would mirror what has happened in Yorkshire and Leicester in recent years where many local leagues were scrapped and clubs came together in one big league with several divisions.

Proposals to follow their lead have been under discussion here for several months, culminating in Saturday’s meeting which was attended by representatives of around half the clubs from all 10 leagues in the Greater Manchester area.

That meeting was designed to gauge whether there was a willingness among clubs to be part of a new structure.

The club representatives are now reporting the details of the meeting back to their members and all clubs have been asked to give feedback to their leagues over their enthusiasm or otherwise for the proposals.

Officials from the leagues are now due to meet next Thursday to continue discussions.

Details are obviously sketchy due to the plans being at such an early stage, but it is understood a new league will have several divisions and there will be promotion and relegation.

There could be a Premier League and two divisions below it which would all incorporate teams from the whole area.

The other divisions may be regionalised and there is a desire to leave the way open for clubs to be promoted from the very bottom division to the Premier League.

All the proposals are open for discussion and change depending on feedback from the clubs.

Bolton League chairman Mike Hall was present at Saturday’s meeting and has been involved in talks over the proposed changes since the start.

He said: “There is no doubt a structured approach to cricket [in the Greater Manchester area] is worth exploring.

“But if it happens it will ultimately be down to the clubs to decide if it is right for them.

“I think personally there is some merit in the principles set out last Saturday.

“We should be sat around the table and be involved because it is better to be part of the discussions rather than not be there.

“The Bolton League have sent out a paper to all 14 clubs that spells out what went on at Old Trafford, what issues were raised and what the clubs would have to think about.

“All Bolton League clubs are now planning to meet on December 1 at Tonge Cricket Club at 7.45pm to talk about the idea and discuss how clubs might respond and how they would like the league to respond.

“But ultimately it will be the decision of the clubs whether they join a new league and what the proposals and format will be."