Merger will pave way forward, say chairmen

MARK HEALD: Chairman had been concerned about future of his league.

In a joint proposal, the leagues would enter a partnership next season ahead of a full merger in 2017.

The new structure would be known as the Bradford Premier League and would comprise a Premier Division, two Championships and two Conferences.

The Premier Division would comprise clubs who would ordinarily make up Bradford League Division One in 2016, with two clubs winning promotion and two being relegated at the end of this season.

Clubs in the top flight must have Clubmark status and an active junior section (with minimum Under-11s, Under-13s and Under-15s age groups) and need to meet ECB Premier League grounds and facilities criteria.

Two Championship divisions will be regionally aligned playing a 22 game season, with the winner of each Championship promoted from the end of 2016.

These sections will consist of the remaining Bradford League clubs, plus five clubs from the current Central Yorkshire League Premier Division, together with Birstall and Methley, who have already been accepted into the Bradford League for 2016.

Bradford League clubs cannot be relegated from this division unless they request to do so or standards fall below current requirements, which will be reviewed after the first five years.

Below the Championships will be Conference Division One and Division Two, which will be an all-amateur competition with no overseas players allowed.

The Premier League and Championships will be played under current Bradford League rules for 2016 and the Conferences under current CYCL rules, with the rules to be consolidated after the full merger.

Premier and Championship clubs will play for the Priestley Cup (first teams) and Priestley Shield (second teams), while Conference teams will play for the Jack Hampshire Cup (first teams) and Wheatley Cup (second teams).

Bradford League chairman David Young said: “My belief is that this proposal presents a way forward for cricket in West Yorkshire with the new enlarged Bradford League at the forefront.”

Mark Heald, chairman of the Central Yorkshire League, said: “Since discussions have begun, many of us involved in the process have been concerned about the strength of the remaining CYCL divisions and for the future of the CYCL itself.”