A row has broken out between Shropshire’s two biggest cricket leagues — with one accusing the other of attempting to “poach” its clubs.

The Marston’s Shropshire Premier League yesterday unveiled fresh proposals to expand and launch a second division from next year.

They have invited applications from clubs from Shropshire and surrounding area.

But officials of the FBC Manby Bowdler League — which feeds into the Premier League and has seven divisions for more than 90 teams — have reacted angrily.

“We note with concern that the Marston’s League have revived their plans to expand their numbers,” said a statement issued by FBC Manby Bowdler League chairman Ed Nicholas.

“This can only mean they are attempting, yet again, to poach clubs from our league.

“In doing this, the SPL are attempting to alter the pyramid structure of league cricket in the county without consulting or including our league in discussions.

Damage

“We feel this unilateral action can only damage cricket in Shropshire, and we are utterly opposed to it.”

They claim the new initiative will de-stabilise the FBC league and vowed to take whatever action necessary to protect the integrity and best interests of members.

And Nicholas has now called for talks to start on merging the two leagues.

“It is time the Shropshire Cricket Board became involved to amalgamate the two leagues,” he added.

“We regard it as an anomaly that two leagues exist in the county.

“The other three feeder leagues to the Birmingham League have a single league, which avoids problems such as one league’s determination to expand at the expense of another.

“As such, the SPL are in a permanently unstable position, as they never know from one year to the next how many clubs will be contained in the league.”

Amongst the FBC ‘s major clubs who could be tempted away are Wroxeter, Alberbury, Frankton and Cound.