A SPECIAL meeting has been called by members of Radcliffe Cricket Club in a bid to repair a rift between players and the management.

Many members of the first team say they will not play under the current management structure, after Mr Chris Franklin was voted in as chairman in place of Mr David Halliwell, at the recent annual meeting.

A petition has been presented to Mr Franklin and his committee saying they will refuse to play unless the situation changes.

Members voted on Thursday (15) of last week to hold an extraordinary general meeting on January 16, to discuss the future of the club and thrash out any differences between members and the committee.

Phil Hayes (20), who was team captain at the club for part of last season, said: "I hope the club can reach a compromise amongst its members soon, as its current situation will prove extremely difficult for the team to play under. I believe as long as certain people remain involved the club will remain in turmoil, much to the senior players' disappointment.Despite how much I get on with Chris Franklin, I believe him to be the wrong person for the chairman's job, more suited to a role similar to that he undertook last year and Dave Halliwell's policies regarding junior cricket will, in time, prove to be in the best interests of the club.

"Senior players have to be the first people we listen to on this matter, as they are the people who are at the forefront of the club.

Certain people have to realise that the club isn't all about them and their opinions, rather the creation of players for county cricket and England.This objective musn't be lost sight of.

"I hope the right thing is done by the club, as it would pain me to play my cricket elsewhere."