THREE of the region's recreational cricket leagues are set to merge at the end of the current season so as to create a new Wessex League in 2002.

Clubs are being asked to sanction a merger of the existing Hampshire League, Combination League and New Forest League into one body.

If approved, the new Wessex League would come into being next January, after the three existing leagues have been wound up.

The changes will have little, if any, impact for the time being on the players whose season ends on Saturday.

"It is envisaged that the divisional structure of the Wessex League for 2002 will be the same as for the current season, with normal promotion and relegations," explained the Hampshire League's acting chairman, Brian Harris.

"So, clubs who finish champions and runners-up this season will be promoted and the two at the bottom relegated."

Envisaged changes in the newly constituted Wessex League in 2003 could include the formation of two new divisions County Division Five South and County Division Five North, along with various regional leagues, which would incorporate the teams playing in the existing Hampshire Combination and New Forest Leagues.

"Having listened to the concerns of our clubs regarding the travelling, we looked at the best way of splitting the league up in the lower divisions to alleviate this.

"Under our proposals, there would be nine levels of cricket, but with every existing team catered for.

"It is not the intention of the Wessex League to leave teams with no cricket for any season," Mr Harris emphasised.

The acting HCL chairman added that "one of the main reasons for looking to merge is that of finding volunteers to undertake the running of the league.

"It gets progressively harder each year; therefore by joining forces we can make better use of the able people."