The new-look league structure in Norfolk has led to a revision of promotion and relegation issues for the coming season.The Norfolk Alliance has expanded from four divisions to seven, taking teams from its two feeder leagues, the West Norfolk League and the Norfolk League.
The new-look league structure in Norfolk has led to a revision of promotion and relegation issues for the coming season.
The Norfolk Alliance has expanded from four divisions to seven, taking teams from its two feeder leagues, the West Norfolk League and the Norfolk League.
As a result, the normal 'two-up, two down' system has been adjusted, with the following changes:
t The champions (or runners-up) of each of the two feeder leagues will, if they meet Alliance requirements, enter Division Four of the Alliance. This arrangement will mean one up and two down between Alliance Divisions Four and Five and Divisions Five and Six.
t As a result of East Harling's withdrawal from the Alliance, only one team will be relegated from Division Six to the feeder leagues at the end of the 2009 season. The relegated team will go into Division One of the feeder leagues.
t If either feeder league cannot provide a champion or runner-up that meets Alliance requirements, relegation from the Alliance will be rescinded using existing rules.
t The numbers promoted and relegated between each division are likely to be further affected if the Alliance has to accommodate an extra team following relegation from the East Anglian Premier League. In such an event, details will be agreed at the end of the season.
The changes were agreed at a meeting between representatives of the three leagues and the Norfolk Cricket Board and NCB chairman Keir Hounsome said: 'It was agreed to give clubs and players as much clarity as possible. It was also recognised that, since the balance of the leagues has changed, a straight two up, two down system in the short-term might not fairly reflect current playing strengths. A further factor was the increasing possibility of a Norfolk team being relegated into the Alliance from the EAPL.'
The changes will be reviewed by the NCB and representatives of the leagues before the start of the 2010 season.
The Norfolk League has been reduced from 10 divisions to eight, while the West Norfolk League has dropped from five divisions to four.
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