AS the June 30 deadline has passed for the transfer of cricket clubs, it is worth a look at who will be playing where in 2016.

There is little doubt that most satisfaction will be felt within the Pennine League, whose formation began with the issue of a two page document around six weeks ago. Hoping to begin with two leagues of 10, they have surpassed their expectations and will begin next season with two leagues of 12 including clubs with some of the best grounds and facilities in Greater Manchester.

The two leagues will comprise 13 clubs from the Central Lancashire League; Walsden, Norden, Rochdale, Monton and Weaste, Royton and Littleborough from the nine clubs in the top division and Crompton, Middleton, Heyside, Ashton, Milnrow, Werneth and Oldham from the lower tier.

They will be joined by Saddleworth, Moorside, Glodwick, Greenfield, Austerlands, Stayley, Micklehurst, Shaw, Uppermill and Friarmere from the Saddleworth League, forming two divisions based around Oldham and Rochdale.

Egerton and Greenmount have left the Bolton League to join the Greater Manchester Cricket League, but the 12 remaining clubs will be boosted by 10 from the Bolton Association; Adlington, Atherton, Blackrod, Daisy Hill, Darcy Lever, Flixton, Golborne, Little Hulton, Lostock and Standish.

From the two leagues with England Cricket Board ‘Semi-Premier’ status, the Bolton League and Central Lancashire League, there will be 12 clubs remaining in Bolton and 13 transferring to the Pennine League with Heywood, Unsworth, Clifton, Radcliffe and Elton joining the Greater Manchester League.

However as one of the ECB designated ‘professional’ leagues, the Lancashire County League have joined the Greater Manchester League en-bloc and have been followed by clubs from the Bolton Association and Saddleworth League, the GMCL will be the only league to have three divisions of ‘professional league’ standard clubs or higher.

At some point in the next 12 months, there is likely to be a further considerable amount of movement of clubs in the County of Lancashire as the Lancashire League are recruiting up to 10 additional clubs for the 2017 season.

While this will undoubtedly be of interest of clubs in the Pennine, Greater Manchester and Bolton leagues it is anticipated that the bulk of the applicants will come from the Northern and Ribblesdale leagues, possibly from the Fylde Coast through Preston to Blackburn and Burnley. While the three Greater Manchester leagues may be affected adversely, there is also the prospect of a vacuum being created in South Lancashire with some of the remaining clubs anxious to move to a league further south. With 18 clubs, the Ribblesdale League would be able to function even if they were to lose up to half a dozen clubs, but were the Northern League to lose a number of their members who are in close proximity to the M55 and M65 motorways its future could be very uncertain.

As mentioned earlier the Central Lancashire and Saddleworth Leagues have rebranded themselves as the Pennine League. This has already become a topic of conversation locally with cricket lovers talking about retaining the Bolton and District Cricket Association name within the Bolton League structure or even choosing a completely different title for the league. It is an important decision and there are so many options there will undoubtedly be more people unhappy rather than satisfied with the outcome.