Proposal for the end of season meeting
Management Committee - Monday 19th September 2005

The following is a proposal for discussion at the end of season meeting at Liverpool CC on 4th October 2005, that:

·         the ECB Premier League be expanded by 2 clubs to make up a division of 14 teams from season 2007.

·         this can be achieved by the promotion of 3 clubs from the First Division and the relegation of 1 club from the Premier Division at the end of the 2006 season.

·         in order to maintain 14 clubs in the First Division, there be no relegation in 2006 which will allow for 2 clubs to be promoted from the Merseyside and Southport Cricket Alliance First Division in accordance with existing regulations.

In considering the above, the following should be taken into account :-

·         the L&DCC has had a written agreement with the Feeder Leagues (Merseyside and Southport Cricket Alliance) regarding the changes in structure for the past 3 years which culminates this season in the 2 clubs promotion and relegation.
 

·         it is for this reason that the above proposal is now being considered for 2007.
 

·         whilst the proposal provides for 2 further clubs from the Alliance to be provided with an improved standard of cricket, their Management Committee is concerned with regard to the loss of clubs in their lower divisions. This is not created solely by the L&DCC proposal but due to certain clubs going out of existence, moving leagues, etc., which accentuates the problem.
 

·         the Alliance has indicated that should it be the wish to proceed with the proposals above, they will review their structure with a positive view to play their part in the re-organisation.

Additional Information

The Alliance is moving towards uniformity with the L&DCC Rules and Regulations to enable a standard format of cricket to prevail throughout the top 4 divisions. It is suggested that they now be requested to achieve this by season 2007, certainly within Alliance Division 1 to enable L&DCC relegated Clubs to experience similar playing conditions.

The operation of L&DCC 2nd XI cricket as a 'stand alone' league could not operate in conjunction with the Alliance owing to their 2nd XIs making up the numbers in their feeder leagues of Merseyside Competition and Southport and District Cricket League.

 

 

Counter proposal for the end of season meeting
Peter Jackson - Wednesday 21st September 2005

I have been asked by the Cricket Committee at Liverpool Cricket Club (hereafter referred to as LCC) to put forward a counter proposal to that stated in 01656 in readiness for the SGM on 4th October 2005.

Before I set out our proposals could I make some general comments:-

The message of 19th September, refers to a written agreement with the Merseyside and Southport Cricket Alliance. This is the first that the current Cricket Committee at LCC has heard of an agreement. We feel that the agreement must be circulated to all Clubs before the SGM, in order that its terms can be considered fully. To accommodate the uncertainty about the effect of this agreement, we have put 2 alternative proposals below.

It is the desire of LCC to stop, as soon as possible, the situation whereby clubs can be relegated from the L&DCC into the Alliance. If this can be done immediately then so much the better, in our view.

I will not go on at length concerning the reasons behind our suggestions, as these have already been the subject of much debate on this website and elsewhere and will, no doubt, also be the subject of further debate on and before 4th October.

However, we will say 2 things. First of all, the L&DCC does not simply exist for the running of Club 1st XIs. We do not believe that it is fair or proper to demote 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th teams into a structure that is light years behind that which exists in the L&DCC. Secondly, we appreciate that the effect of our proposals may be to lose ECB Premier League status for the L&DCC. If that is the effect of our proposals then, in our view, so be it. Nobody has, as yet, been able to explain to us what the L&DCC gets from the  ECB structure that is sufficient to justify the potentially devastating effects that a club might suffer if it were to be relegated out of the L&DCC.

Having said all of that, our proposal/s is/are as follows.

PROPOSAL 1 - If there is no legally binding agreement with the Alliance to maintain the current feeder structure for next season (2006).

1.
 

That the Premier League be expanded for 2006 onwards to 14 clubs.
 

2.

 

That this be achieved by promoting the top 2 clubs from Division 1 at the end of the 2005 season and by retaining in the Premier League the 2 bottom clubs in the Premier League at the end of the 2005 season.
 

3.
 

That the 2 clubs at the top of the Alliance structure at the end of the 2005 season be promoted in to Division 1 of the L&DCC.
 

4.
 

That the Premier Division Knockout Competitions be scrapped for the 2006 season and thereafter.
 

5.
 

That from 2006 onwards there be NO relegation to the Alliance of the 2 bottom clubs in First Division of the L&DCC.
 

6.
 

That promotion and relegation should continue between the Premier and First Divisions on the basis of 2 teams being relegated and promoted between the divisions every year henceforth.


PROPOSAL 2 - If there is a legally binding agreement with the Alliance to maintain the current position for 2006.

Exactly the same as the above, save that -

(a) "2007" be substituted for "2006" in clauses 1, 4 and 5, and
(b) "2006" be substituted for "2005" in clauses 2 and 3.