PLANS are being developed to amalgamate the Flint & Cook Marches League and the Hereford Times Hereford and District League next season.

The aim behind the move is to gain automatic promotion and relegation into the Worcestershire County League by complying with the ECB's directives on the pyramid structure in club cricket.

Initiated by Herefordshire Cricket Board's Recreational Forum, it would be the first time since the breakaway Marches League's inaugural season in 1992 that the two leagues have joined forces.

Both leagues hold separate meetings next week in an effort to approve and fine-tune the scheme, although proposed structures have already been outlined.

The move would see the formation of six divisions next season, with four in the Marches League and two in the Hereford and District League.

The existing 10-team Marches League Divisions 1 and 2 would remain, while the top five in the current Marches Division 3 would partner five sides from the Hereford League in a new-look Marches Division 3.

The remaining eight teams from this season's Marches Division 3 would go into a new Marches Division 4, along with two further Hereford League sides.

The seven Hereford League clubs making the step up would have to meet strict criteria on their facilities, based on the provision of showers and a grass wicket, but yet to be finalised.

For 2001, the existing Marches League committee would run these four divisions, while the remaining Hereford League sides, who do not meet the facilities criteria, would form two divisions run by the current Hereford committee.

One merged committee would be formed for the 2002 season, with complete amalgamation of the leagues under a new name.

Peter Sykes, honorary secretary of the Hereford League, said: We have been pushing for this for a couple of years and we think we have got about seven teams who meet the criteria now.

The Marches League member clubs meet at the Imperial Hotel, Hereford, on Monday, while the Hereford League's executive committee meet on Wednesday.