Westhoughton have been refused a work permit for their West Indian professional Rod Estwick, just days before the start of the new cricket season.

The Barbadian cricketer, who has spent the last 14 summers over here, and was married in Bolton, now faces being forced out of the game in this country.

But Westhoughton have vowed to fight the decision, not only for themselves and the player but 'for the good of cricket'.

The Department of Employment have ruled that work permits will only be offered to overseas players who have played first class cricket in their own countries during the last 12 months. Rod Estwick last played top class cricket in 1989 - and Westhoughton do not dispute that fact.

But what they do say is that the player is a qualified coach, with a vast wealth of experience in league cricket, and should be looked on as a special case.

They argue that Estwick has specialised coaching talents which is not only beneficial to Westhoughton and Bolton, but cricket in general. So much so that they are continuing to plead their case with the DOE and have enlisted the help of Bolton West MP Tom Sackville to back their fight in Whitehall.

Westhoughton vice-chairman Brendan Durham said: "The club feels that cricket is the only loser and the game in this country is being robbed of Rod Estwick's experience by bureaucracy at the DOE.

"We are determined to fight this case and hope that there will be a satisfactory conclusion for both club and player."

For the record, Estwick has played league cricket every year in this country since 1982.

From 1982-84 he was with Lancashire League side Todmorden before joining Farnworth Social Circle in 1985. In 1987 he signed for Westhoughton, staying until 1990.

He then spent the next three years playing with Scottish club Aberdeen before returning to Social Circle in 1994. He was retained by Circle last season before agreeing a new contract for a second spell with Westhoughton. Former Bolton League and Egerton captain Paul Tebay has joined Northern League side Leyland as their new professional.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.