That is when an integrated league structure for the major leagues in the county will be introduced.

But there are still 52 of the county's 138 cricket clubs not signed up to the development.

Roy Ramsbottom, Treasurer of the Cheshire Clubs Cricket Committee instigating the move, said: "Whatever happens, there will be well over 100 clubs involved in the structured league system. We have contacted all the clubs outside the development and our Chairman, Dave Humpage, is more than willing to visit clubs to explain the structure."

In the 12 months since the formation of the Cheshire Clubs Cricket Committee the move to a 'Cheshire Pyramid' has advanced at pace.

The committee is currently awaiting approval from the English Cricket Board for the League's MSCCC First Division to be accepted as a County Premier League. When the approval is granted Cheshire will become the first county to have a County Premier League as part of the ECB's scheme to introduce 17 throughout the country.

The Murray Smith Cheshire County League, the Meller Braggins Cheshire League and Oxbridge Cheshire Alliance have all agreed in principal to the new integrated structure for club cricket.

Dave Humpage, Chairman of the Cheshire Clubs Cricket Committee, said: "The plan is to bring Cheshire cricket together."

It is hoped that the structured system will be introduced no later than the end of the 2000 season.

The main priority now for the Cheshire Clubs Cricket Committee is what to do about those Cheshire teams from outside the three leagues involved.

Those leagues are the: Liverpool Competition, North Staffs & South Cheshire, Merseyside Competition, Lancashire County, Derbyshire & Cheshire, Wirral League and the Glossop League. There are also a host of other clubs which have already applied, including Moore & Daresbury, Bunbury and Frodsham.

A report published by the Cheshire Committee explaining the plans states: "There must be the opportunity for all clubs in the county to enter the integrated system envisaged, should they so wish."

With that in mind, the committee is concentrating on presenting its ideas to those clubs outside the structure. No definite decision needs to be made by clubs before the end of the 1999 season, but a decision before the end of 1998 will improve a club's chances of entering directly into the Meller Braggins League.

But there remains a great deal of resistance. It seems teams in the Wirral League and Merseyside Competition are keen to address a possible move, but those in the Derbyshire & Cheshire League and the Glossop League are less committed.

Any teams that agree to move within the structure before 1999 will enter at a standard suitable to them, as gauged by their league position and the quality of the ground. However, any new clubs entering the structure will not enter any higher than the Meller Braggins League.

That may make the move less appealing to big clubs such as New Brighton, Elworth and Stockport.

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