Warwickshire League champions Berkswell have lodged an appeal against the decision to refuse them promotion to the Banks's Birmingham & District Premier League.
Berkswell swept to the Warwickshire League title, losing only one match all summer. They were captained by former Warwickshire batsman Dominic Ostler and their ground at Meeting House Lane, where a new #250,000 clubhouse is being built, passed a facilities audit conducted by Birmingham League officials.
But Berkswell have now been told that they have been refused promotion because they do not field a Saturday third XI. They lodged an immediate appeal and a meeting is expected to be convened within the next two weeks.
?Berkswell do not meet the entry criteria for the Birmingham League because they do not run a third XI on Saturdays,? said Nick Archer, the Birmingham League ? s administrator.
?The criteria are clearly laid down. The matter is subject to an appeal and we will listen carefully to what Berkswell have to say before we make a decision.?
Ostler, who joined Berkswell in 2004 and took over the captaincy of his local village club after he retired from first-class cricket 12 months ago, criticised the Birmingham League?s decision.
?No one told us at the start of the season that we needed to be running a third XI,? he said.
?We know that there are Birmingham League clubs who have struggled to fulfil their third team fixtures this year so for us to be denied entry is ridiculous.?
If Berkswell lose their appeal Pershore will be spared relegation from the Birmingham League.
