Westhoughton are still in line to host County Championship cricket in 2011.

Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes believes the Bolton League club has the capability to host first-class cricket when the Red Rose county temporarily vacate Old Trafford.

Lancashire plan to turn the square at their Manchester HQ at the end of next summer as part of a multi-million pound redevelopment aimed at keeping international cricket in the North West.

And to test out the facilities at Westhoughton’s new St George’s Oval, Lancashire will almost certainly play some second team matches there next summer.

“Westhoughton’s got a real good chance,” said Cumbes. “It’s a nice new ground, they’ve got a big cricket square, they’ve got a lovely pavilion.

“It’s a venue in the centre of the county, an area with a rich tradition. A lot of our cricketers past and present have come from around that area.

“It would be great to take our cricket out to where we have got a lot of our cricketers from.

“I think we’ll have a couple of second team games there next year, although I’m not sure whether that’s been completely decided yet.”

Lancashire are currently waiting for a decision from Trafford Council — expected in February — as to whether their plans for the second stage of the re-development will be approved or rejected.

“When it comes to 2011, assuming all goes well, the planning goes through and we turn the square, we will need to find a home for at least seven four-day games — maybe even all eight,” continued Cumbes.

“We are hoping to play all our one-day cricket at Old Trafford because the square will be big enough, but the Championship matches will be at out-grounds.

“We have got to assess that, and there are several grounds in contention. Liverpool, Blackpool, Southport and Lytham have all been on our list in the past, but now Westhoughton is in the frame.

“When we get to the middle of next year, June or July time, we will have to sit down and decide where our games are going to go.

“We will approach clubs and ask them whether they want to take four-day cricket in 2011. Most probably all of them will write back and say ‘yes’.

“There will be a cost to everybody concerned — to the clubs staging it and for us staging it.

“It’s then a matter of us all sitting down around a table, talking about how the match would operate and seeing whether the club in question is capable of staging it.

“In terms of our current relationship with Westhoughton, everything’s fine. They’re enthusiastic, we’re enthusiastic.”

So impressed have Lancashire been with the facilities at the new ground, there has even been talk of the county using Westhoughton as a permanent base for their second team.

But, while Lancashire are still exploring all their options, it seems that idea has been put on the backburner for now.

Cumbes added: “It’s still a possibility, but the only problem with us doing that is the cost that comes with it. We are in difficult economic times.

“The intention is still there to do that, but maybe when things get a bit better.”

Lancashire have confirmed their pre-season tour will be in Barbados on March 14-28.