THE body which governs the Bolton League and all local cricket in the area – the Lancashire Cricket Board – is undergoing a major change.

It is merging with the LCCC Foundation to form a new organisation, the Lancashire Cricket Foundation.

It is part of a major restructuring at Lancashire County Cricket Club and the LCB.

The latter has governed local cricket during a period of enormous change to local league structures in the last five years which has seen seven leagues disappear, including the Bolton Association – five of them against the wishes of their officials and many of their clubs.

It has also overseen the creation of the multi-division Greater Manchester League.

The Lancashire Cricket Foundation has a new chairman, Bobby Cross, a long-time local league player in the county and LCB director and vice-chairman.

The Bury man is also the son of former Wanderers striker David Cross and brother of top women’s player Kate.

A statement on the Lancashire County Cricket Club website said the new Lancashire Cricket Foundation has “an overall aim to deliver some extremely exciting growth in both participation and attendance across the game throughout the region in the coming years”.

It adds: “The Elite Player Pathway, including all Lancashire age group teams, and all talent identification, will transfer from the LCB to the Club [Lancashire County Cricket Club] through the academy.”

The restructuring will also see former Red Rose and England players Andrew Flintoff and Paul Allott return to Lancashire.

Flintoff, aged 39, will join Lancashire’s board, while Allott has been named director of cricket.

Flintoff began his career with the Red Rose in 1995.