ELEVEN Bolton and District Cricket Association clubs have agreed they would like to join the Bolton League en bloc.

The clubs met at Adlington Cricket Club last night to discuss the future of the Association following the resignations of 11 clubs from the league over the last three weeks.

With the future of the Association as an independent league looking bleak following the mass resignations, officials and remaining clubs met to discuss and decide on their next move.

The outcome was all 11 said they wanted to go into the expanded Bolton League together if the opportunity arises.

Bolton League clubs meet at Tonge Cricket Club on Monday night to vote on their proposed expansion.

The 11 clubs who attended last night's meeting were the seven who did not resign from the Association – Lostock, Daisy Hill, Little Hulton, Adlington, Golborne, Standish and Westleigh – and the four who resigned informing the Association of their intention of hopefully join the Bolton League – Atherton, Blackrod, Darcy Lever and Flixton.

Clubs who are currently in the Association who were not present were Astley & Tyldesley, Bury, Walshaw, Winton, Swinton Moorside, and Worsley – who have all resigned and applied to join the Greater Manchester League – and Edgworth who have resigned and given no indication of their future plans.

Frank Jackson, chairman of the Association, said there was a strong common aim among those present at last night's meeting.

He said: "The one common thread among those who were present last night is that they do not want to go to the Greater Manchester League.

"All 11 want to be considered en bloc to be a part of the Bolton League.

"My opinion is it will be the best thing for Bolton cricket to come together in two or three divisions and form something like the Liverpool Competition in the Bolton area – simple promotion and relegation in the Bolton area.

"We want to come together and get it sorted out and make sure that everybody is happy with the outcome.

"Any minor obstacles can be overcome.

"The Bolton League and Bolton Association have been divorced now for 88 years, it's time for reconciliation."

On Edgworth, who were not invited to attend the meeting because they have not made their plans known, he said: "They are a long established Bolton Association club and we would be more than happy for them to come with us to the Bolton League."