DISAPPOINTED Bridport skipper Duane Gay admitted it was a relief in the end that the club pulled its senior side out of the Dorset League.

The Brewery Ground club’s chairman Peter Wyrill announced the decision to withdraw from County Division Four this week.

And although Gay was left saddened by the demise, he admitted the struggle to find players could not realistically continue.

“It’s hard to say but it was more of a relief in a way,” he told Echosport.

“We had about seven people committed every week and when you are looking for four more players every Saturday it’s not ideal.

“I was constantly ringing around and it was getting to the point that it was just not worth it.

“I just wanted to play and enjoy my cricket.

“I’ve got a young family as well and it was starting to affect my home life.”

Gay, who has played for Bridport with his family since he was a youngster, is now forced to feature elsewhere for the rest of the summer.

He added: “I have played for Bridport since I was 13 so it’s been around 12 years that I had played for them.

“I have spoken to a few other clubs, Beaminster included, but I am playing for Kilmington in the Devon League at the minute. It’s just a case of getting cricket in.”