THE future of the North Lancs and Cumbria Cricket League will be decided this weekend – after plans to reform the competition were thrown into turmoil.

A new format for the league was due to be decided at the annual general meeting last month, with many clubs unhappy with a framework which saw sides playing each other three times in a season.

However, despite the general consensus that a new arrangement was needed, two proposals for divisional structures were both rejected by clubs – leaving everyone in limbo over the 2018 campaign.

New plans have now been drawn up, and the 18 member clubs will meet once more at Dalton Cricket Club tomorrow, when a decision must be made.

League chairman Gary Postlethwaite said everyone in the league recognised change was necessary, but it was proving harder than expected to put that into practice.

He said: “During the season, we noticed that – as with a lot of sports – participation is becoming more difficult. We noticed there were more games being cancelled, and more short-sided games were being played – not 11 against 11.

“I grasped the nettle and said we had an issue, asked if all the clubs wanted to get together to have a chat about how we could look at stopping the drop in player participation.

“We got the clubs together and had a couple of meetings. A few guys went away to work up a proposal to restructure the league.”

One of the major problems with the current system is that teams play some of their rivals twice at home and others twice away, making for issues with balance and with travel, leading to player participation problems.

“It’s not ideal,” said Postlethwaite. “We’re a big county, so this could mean going to Carlisle twice from Barrow, Barrow twice from Wigton.”

Initial proposals were for two divisions of 10, with the remaining 11 teams regionalised into five and six-side competitions – with Barrow A rejoining next year.

Sides would play each other twice in the top two divisions.

This is where the league split, with two proposals, one from the north of the county involving a Twenty20 competition, and another which left the cup competitions as they are.

But both plans were rejected, with some clubs in the north not in favour of their own plans, and likewise those from the south. The vote was 10-8 against in each case.

After being asked to come up with a new plan, the clubs have now suggested a 12-team top-flight, with a first division of 10 teams and a second division of nine, with no regionalisation.

There would be one up, one down between each division – though sides can turn down promotion – with sides again playing each other once.

Matches in Division Two would be 40 overs per side, with the other two divisions remaining at 50 overs.

The proposed new structure would mean Dalton would retain their top-flight status, with Millom, Whitehaven, Haverigg and Lindal Moor all making the step up from Division One.

The remaining four Division One teams from last season would join the top six in Division Two in the second flight, with all the other sides in the third division. Once a decision has been made on the league structure, fixtures and cup draws for next season will be completed.

“It’s been worked on, proposed and seconded, and six clubs have asked for an EGM,” confirmed Postlethwaite. “On Saturday, we will have a quick discussion and then a vote.”