Lostock Cricket Club have suffered another setback in their fight to continue playing in the Bolton Association.

Their appeal against a decision to suspend them from the league after this season has been rejected by the Association.

Lostock, currently bottom of the Association, face losing their ground, which is being earmarked for development, for some time.

Because of the uncertainly surrounding their home, they cannot guarantee they can fulfil their fixtures next season.

The standard of their pitch is also a cause for concern for the Association.

The Catch 22 for Lostock is that it would be expensive to improve the pitch and there is little point in spending the money with the pitch expected to be ripped up in the near future.

It is not yet known when the development, which is believed to include a new Bolton Wanderers Academy and a new cricket pitch for Lostock, is due to begin. Approval has not yet been granted.

There is plenty of sympathy among the other Association members for Lostock who have had a terrible run of bad luck in recent years.

The starts of the last three seasons have been hit by a damaged drain, re-seeding problems and the clubhouse being destroyed by fire.

There has also been a wide misunderstanding of Lostock's situation with many people believing they have been expelled from the league, which is not the case.

They have been suspended, with the suspension beginning at the end of 2005, which leaves the way open for them to return when they have facilities which are acceptable by the Association.

Lostock officials are determined to overcome their difficulties and ensure a bright future for the club.

They are working on their strategy to make that possible, but have decided to decline to make any comment due to being unhappy with the manner in which their story has been handled in different areas of the media in the past.

Lostock's absence would be a sad loss to the Bolton Association. Not only are they one of only two clubs in the league which are based inside the Bolton boundaries, but they have also played in the Association, on and off, since 1938.

They last rejoined the league 30 years ago and have enjoyed an unbroken spell of playing cricket in the Association ever since.