CRICKET in the county is set to revert back to its former structure after a proposed five-year development plan by league chiefs failed to be voted in at the Dorset Cricket League AGM.

The Dorset Cricket Board met with clubs at the Crown Hotel in Blandford to discuss how the league will shape up next season.

With a number of sides abstaining from voting on the suggested format, it did not meet the two-thirds majority needed to be put in place.

League secretary Alan Graham told Echosport: “From our point of view, it was a bit of a disaster.

“The proposal needed a two-thirds majority to be passed and we didn’t get that.

“I think it does show that there is a lot of indecisiveness as to where we are going with Dorset League cricket, which is disappointing, but we have to keep going.”

The league will now return to its previous form of 10 teams in both of its top two tiers, as proposed by clubs on the night, with no end of season play-offs and two sides to be promoted and relegated.

Graham added: “There was a proposal by two or three clubs to revert immediately back to 10 teams in the top two divisions. That did get through so we are back where we were a couple of years ago.

“It is a democracy and you have got to accept what the clubs want.

“They did still agree that some of the criteria we are trying to introduce to improve things on and off the field should stay in place.

“The problem we might have now is finding 20 clubs that can comply with it in the top two divisions.

“My fear is that some of the bigger clubs might continue to leave and go to neighbouring leagues if the cricket becomes too uncompetitive.”

With larger clubs in the county set to field their second XIs in Premier Two next term, those sides will not be able to achieve promotion to the top league.