JER Lane are to play in the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League next season.

Their resignation has been accepted by the Spenser Wilson Halifax League's executive committee and was announced at their league meeting tonight at Pellon Social Club.

A statement, which was read out, said: "The underlying reason for the application was that Jer Lane wished to move from being solely an amateur club, a prerequisite for playing in the Halifax League, to becoming a semi-professional club, a concept that the Bradford League endorses.

"The league, the YCB pyramid board and the Bradford League all agreed that such an application to join the latter's fourth-tier competition, the Conference Division, should be considered on its merits.

"This has been carried out and Jer Lane have been accepted as their 50th club for season 2018 and have now resigned from our league."

However, the statement added: "It must be emphasised that this resignation does not affect our league's current arrangement within the YCB pyramid system West.

"This allows their club finishing first in the Halifax Premier Division to apply to join the Bradford League in Division Two (third tier) if it so wishes.

"The 2017 season's Premier Division winners will retain that right.

"However, should Jer Lane win this competition they will have to start in the (bottom) Conference Division, as now agreed, as they have forfeited their right to move into Division Two, the division above.

"The immediate impact on the HCL Premier Division is that, in effect, they will have only 11 teams as at close of play on Saturday, September 16, 2017.

"As a result, the HCL executive have agreed that only one team shall be relegated from each Premier Division (first and second teams).

"Should a team other than Jer Lane win the Premier Division first XIs, and the club opts to join the Bradford League, a further review would be undertaken."

Jer Lane have also issued a statement, which said: "Jer Lane CC are pleased to announce that from season 2018 they will be participating in the All Rounder Bradford League.

"We would like to thank the Spenser Wilson Halifax League, the Bradford League and the Yorkshire pyramid board for helping to facilitate this move and make it possible.

"We wish the HCL every success in the future and thank them for all their help and support over the last 11 years."

The league's statement concluded: "The SW Halifax League continues to be the foremost amateur league in West Yorkshire.

"They will be pleased to talk to any club within their current geographical boundaries that may wish to consider joining and endorsing our concepts."

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