AFTER dropping four tiers in the cricket pyramid in three seasons Eastnor Cricket Club are looking to re-establish themselves after electing for relegation.

The Herefordshire side suffered back-to-back relegations from the Birmingham league and following an 85-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player last season finished second bottom of the Worcestershire County League Second Division.

After several players left the side during the summer the club's committee has requested relegation to the third division for this season.

Treasurer Malcolm Hughes said that the team needed to re-establish itself going forwards.

He said: "We haven't got the previous strength we had last season and our players haven't competed at the same level.

"Our first team this year is more like our second team and our third will be our second. All we want to do is re-establish ourselves and attract new players.

"Unfortunately a player we were bringing in this season has got injured and is out for the season, we were hoping that he would attract some players as well.

"It happened in February and I'm surprised the league allowed us to do this as the fixtures were already done.

"So we have to stick with what we have got and build from there. We would have finished half-way in the first division had we not been docked points.

"One player dropped out on the morning of a game and another player came in. The docked points was the difference between second from bottom and half-way."

Their relegation made for a dream promotion for Bartestree and Lugwardine who finished third in Division Three last year.

A six off the final ball of the season secured their third place finish and following Eastnor's relegation they were promoted as their replacement Division Two.

Hughes hopes that Eastnor can bounce back by building a young side.

He added: "Hopefully we will get some new coaches who can bring in a youth policy and get some of those into our senior teams.

"The youth that have came through haven't stayed with us or they get to a certain level and disappear to play football instead.

"We are hoping to attract younger players who can progress through to the senior team which doesn't seem to have worked in more recent years.

"Last year there was a big drop in our under-13 and under-15 teams and only had one side."

Eastnor coach juniors from five years old up to 15 on a Wednesday evening.