Sharp pulls the plug on league merger

5:02pm Thursday 23rd October 2008

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David Sharp, the new chairman of the Central Yorkshire Cricket League, has pulled the plug on their merger with the Leeds-West Riding Cricket League.

He said: “I am the third chairman of our league to be involved in the talks and we were 90 per cent there.

“But I have read all the minutes and the documentation between the two parties and I cannot believe my two predecessors have let things get so far.

“I cannot believe that they have been called merger talks - especially if you read the Leeds-West Riding League’s website about their steering committee.

“We even agreed to change the name of our league to the Central Yorkshire Alliance but we have decided to halt the merger talks, and I have the full backing of my committee on that.

“If Leeds-West Riding League clubs want to merge with us then they will do it on our terms, but the door is still open to them to apply to us on an individual basis before November 5.

“I understand that three of their clubs will be coming to join us.”

Sharp added that he wanted the Central Yorkshire League to become even stronger, cementing their position as one of the main leagues within Yorkshire.

A statement from Sharp on the Central Yorkshire League’s website reads: “After long and considerable deliberation by myself and my committee, the decision to abandon merger talks with the Leeds-West Riding League (LWRL) was regrettably taken.

“We feel quite clear that this decision was taken in the best interest of the Central Yorkshire Cricket League (CYCL) and its loyal member clubs.

“I wish to put on record to all parties that the CYCL door remains open to not just LWRCL clubs but to any progressive club who feels they wish to join what will now be a strong and unified league.

“I would like to thank LWRCL and CYCL members for their sincere efforts to make the merger a reality but somewhere during the protracted talks the real issue of who was the senior party was lost and pushed under the carpet.

“I reiterated our stance on all issues to the LWRCL and, contrary to statements from themselves, can inform you the main points of our final discussions were agreed as follows by me and my colleagues.

1 The new merged league be called the alliance.

2 The LWRCL to have proportionate representation of their management on the new merged board.

3 The new proposed league structure from LWRCL be taken back to CYCL management and clubs for possible and positive ratification.

“In conclusion, the CYCL has lost valuable ground in its progression and, with or without the LWRCL clubs, it will go forward all the stronger as a progressive and democratically managed organisation.

“Finally I would publically like to thank my colleagues and my clubs for their support of myself in coming to the correct decision for all parties.”