WINTON have become the second member of the Bolton Association to join the Greater Manchester Cricket League.

The club, who are in only their second season in the Association, have joined Astley and Tyldesley in resigning from the league.

Walshaw are expected to follow them both out of the Association and into the GM League this weekend when the Sycamore Road club's committee meet to make a decision.

It is likely to confirm a vote by the players on Tuesday night to join the GM League.

Bury meet tonight when they are also expected to vote to leave the Association and join the GM League.

Winton posted a tweet and released a statement on Wednesday night confirming their decision.

The tweet read: "Delighted to announce we are joining the @GtrMcrCricket for the 2016 season. We are excited and looking forward to the new challenge ahead.

"Big thanks to the BDCA clubs and committee for accepting us into the league at a tough time. Best of luck for the future.

"Hosting the Cross Cup final in our first year was a real honour. Onto exciting times ahead now for the club and amateur cricket in Greater Manchester."

The statement read: "On behalf of the players and committee of Winton Cricket Club we are pleased to be able to confirm our application to the Greater Manchester Cricket League. We have monitored from the outset the development of the proposed league and consider that the GMCL represents the best possible option for the future of the club, our players and local cricket in general.

"It is felt that the GMCL will afford clubs such as Winton the opportunity to find our competitive level at both senior and junior level while encouraging clubs to improve and maintain their own standards on and off the field.

"Having experienced first hand the demise of the Manchester & District Cricket Association we can only reflect on long held beliefs within the club that a structure of the kind envisaged by the GMCL is arguably long overdue. An opportunity such as the GMCL cannot, in our opinion, be overlooked.

"This should not however detract from the gratitude and thanks we owe to the clubs and committee of the Bolton and District Cricket Association who, over the last two seasons afforded us the opportunity to play our cricket in a competitive and well-run league.

"We now move forward with excitement as to what the future holds and the new challenge ahead."