Monmouth appeal gets league support (From Free Press Series)

Monmouth appeal gets league support

MONMOUTH Cricket Club have been handed a welcome boost in their quest to compete in the Flint & Cook Marches League Division 2 this summer.

The club appealed against a decision by the Marches League's executive committee to deny their second team promotion to Division 2.

The league's executive committee originally told Monmouth that newcomers Hereford City Sports Club were to be placed in that division.

But the league's executive committee now recommend that Monmouth's second team should be promoted to Division 2, with Hereford City entering at Division 3 level.

And the Marches League are holding a compulsory meeting for all full member clubs later this month, when the 'promotion issue' will be put to the vote.

Monmouth club chairman Chris Brooks said: "We very much welcome the news, because we thought the issue should be opened up to a wider audience.

"We have nothing against Hereford City, but we think existing members of the league should have priority.

"Our second team had a fine season last year, finishing runners-up in Division 3, and we believe the league's revised recommendation of us retaining our promotion, and Hereford starting in Division 3, is the right way to proceed."

Marches League secretary Derrick Jones said: "Monmouth appealed against the executive's decision and the appeal was considered. The executive then took the view that the last paragraph of League Rule 4.15 had not been complied with, in that 'The Management Committee shall have the power to determine the division in which to place teams joining the league'."

The management committee is made up of the league's elected officers and one appointed representative from each full member club.

The meeting takes place at the Imperial Hotel in Here-ford on Monday, February 23 at 7.30pm, and is mandatory.

Any club not represented at the meeting will be docked points at the start of the new season.