CLUB officials from football teams across Lancashire packed out the chairman’s suite at the Macron Stadium to hear exciting plans for the Bolton, Bury and District Junior League’s plan to launch an Under-21s league.

Almost 50 people attended the event to hear about the initiative, which could start in September this year.

Warren Barlow, chairman of the league, was delighted by the level of interest in a project that promises to be another pro-active development for a league pushing the boundaries.

He said: “This is a three-year plan and we are targeting getting 10 by the first one.

“Then in year two we want to get it up to 22 and hopefully 42 in the year after.

“I think once we have a solid league set-up then more teams will want to join."

League secretary Gary Russell said that Stuart McNair would be taking on the role of Under-21 secretary.

He said: “Stuart has a wealth of experience of coaching and playing in local football and we believe he will help the venture.

“So far we have had four teams signed up to the league and there are a lot more, including the clubs here who have declared an interest in signing up.”

Shaun Burke, from the Lancashire FA, also outlined plans for how the county bosses will help local teams.

Meanwhile, Derek Egan, also from the Lancashire FA , praised the plan.

He said: “It is something that as a county FA we have been looking for four or five years.

“We have had various initiatives, starting the 7v7 in 2000 and 9v9 football for kids, and this Under-21 league is going to be similar, working in one area and then transferred to other areas.

“There are lots of kids coming through but when they turn 18 they break up as they don’t want to go into adult football. This will help stop that happening and keep them together as teams so they can eventually play adult football.

“We have got a long-standing support for the Bolton, Bury and District League and we will continue to work with them on pro-active initiatives such as this one.”

Gary Russell insisted the reasons behind pushing for the new format of league included increasing participation for players, coaches and referees.

He added: “We are trying to address the decline in footballers leaving the game after 18.

“We think this is a ground-breaking football initiative for the North West.”