SAFC2403
Striker
League Cricket Conference rules, as well as the individual rule books of all of the leagues (including the DSL) state that for a club to join another league they must resign from the league they are currently playing in by 30 June in the season before they move.
As the DSL knacked the promotion/relegation system this year by refusing to relegate a team, neither Boldon or Seaham Harbour were promoted "officially" and so both needed to resign from the DCCL by 30 June 2011 to be able to join the DSL for 2012. Neither did - the Harbour sent a letter of resignation in a couple of weeks ago (after being accepted by the DSL - again against the rules) and Boldon CA still havent sent a letter in. The DCCL have rejected the Harbour's letter of resignation as is their right under the rules, and they will reject any such letter from Boldon CA if they eventually decide to send one in.
Both clubs will play in the DCCL next season and will be named on the DCCL fixture list as per the rule book. If they do not turn up for games (ie play in the Senior League against the rules) they will be fined for each unfulfilled fixture (including 1st, 2nd 3rd teams and juniors this will amount to about £1000 per month). In addition, the Senior League representative teams will be banned from all inter-league competitions and any junior player registered to a Durham Senior League club will be considered ineligible to represent Durham. The Durham County Board have confirmed that this will be enforced, apparently they are as p1ssed off with the DSL as anyone.
I don't think the clubs decided to sign the 3 year agreement - it was decided to f*ck the Senior League off and wait to hear the proposals for NEPL Div 2 next year. It may well be that the top 5 or 6 Senior League clubs apply for that in which case the remaining half dozen will be left trying to find new leagues themselves - they'll have the DCCL, DCL and NEDL to choose from (although I assume that Norton and Maybe Castle Eden might try and get into the NYSD system.
It's all very interesting - but the bottom ine is that the DSL top clubs have pushed everyone into a difficult position with their blatant self-preservation in disregarding the pyramid system.
Good post - it's going to be interesting to see what transpires in the DSL as this will have a knock on effect into the coast league and beyond as if teams leave the coast league will they in turn will be looking to the North East Durham league for teams to make up the shortfall. Where this will leave the NEDL is anyones guess!!