THE future structure of Dorset League Cricket has taken yet another twist, as a proposal for teams to apply for a spot in the top flight is now being explored by the Dorset Cricket Board.

Clubs voted against the proposal of a five-year development plan by the Dorset League at their AGM in November, in favour to revert back to the competition’s older structure of a straight 10-team league.

Taking the clubs’ views into consideration, the Dorset Cricket Board has voiced their concerns over the standards of cricket in the league at present, and has asked teams that wish to play at the highest level possible to apply for acceptance into the top division next term.

In a letter to league secretary Alan Graham, who will report the feedback from teams around the county to the board, Dorset Cricket Board chairman Barry Lewis said: “The board have requested that a Premier League with criteria in place is set up and would need to be by invitation to clubs who are willing and able to conform to the criteria agreed and wish to be part of a high performance league.”

Teams will need to reach a number of different criteria to be accepted into the proposed competition, including required pitch grading and outfield standards, Clubmark in association with Sport England, and must have at least two youth teams among other factors.

However the criteria will be trialled in 2015 and will not be fully operational until a year later.

Dorset’s clubs have until Monday to apply to join the league and express their views on the proposed structure, the board will then receive feedback and meet later in the week to come to a final conclusion.

League secretary Graham revealed to Echosport that more than 10 clubs have already applied to be part of the proposed high-performance division.

“Over the last 10 days or so I have had a lot of constructive emails and phone calls from clubs,” he said.

“Initially there were thoughts about making it a closed shop but clubs have come out against that so the recommendation to the board next week will be that there should still be a promotion and relegation system involved.

“Any team looking to go up into that division in the future would have to apply to the criteria that is needed to be in it.”

A decision on the final outcome of the league structure should be revealed in the next 10 days.

Talking about the proposed Premier Division, Weymouth Cricket Club chairman John Ryan said: “We have confirmed that we want to be part of the structure.

“In my opinion, the Premier League must have the best pitches, equipment, covers and set-ups in the background with youth structures.”

Dorchester chairman Mark Derrien added: “We find ourselves in a bit of a dilemma because we want to play in the highest league possible, but, at the same time, we disagree with the notion of having a closed shop at the top of the ladder, so that other teams can’t progress into that league.

“We have applied to join the league but we have made our comments that it is much more desirable to have relegation and promotion so that all teams can be ambitious.

“It’s difficult to plan because, for Dorchester, we don’t know whether we should be planning for life in the top tier or the second.”