ATHERTON and Astley and Tyldesley are two of 11 clubs who have resigned from the Bolton and District Cricket Association.

The pair have pulled out of the second oldest cricket league in the world following a shake-up in league cricket in the area following the introduction of a new Greater Manchester League.

The GMCL starts next year and has so far received applications from 37 clubs to join – including Astley and Tyldesley.

Atherton have not yet announced which league they hope to be playing in next season.

A&T were the first club to resign from the Association three weeks ago with Atherton handing in their notice on Sunday's deadline day for resignations.

Their decision could depend on a meeting of Bolton Cricket League clubs on Monday at which it will be decided whether or not to expand that league.

If the BCL vote for expansion they will look to increase from one division to two from next season and recruit a number of new clubs.

Atherton would be expected to be one of those clubs who would join the Bolton League along with at least three of the other five clubs who have resigned from the Bolton Association and not yet announced their future destination.

The future of the Bolton Association looks uncertain with only seven of its 18 clubs not having resigned by Sunday.

They will discuss their options for the future tomorrow night at a meeting at Adlington Cricket Club, which will also be attended by the Association committee and three other Association clubs who have resigned but not gone public with their decision pending the meeting.

Atherton and Astley and Tyldesley are two of the longest-serving members of the Bolton Association having unbroken memberships from 1921 and 1935, respectively.