BOLTON Association chairman John Charlson has warned that too much cricket could damage the health of the local league.

There has been concern for some time that regular Saturday and Sunday matches are starting to dull the appetite of some players.

In his introduction to the new season in the Association handbook, he writes: "We are faced with an abundance of cricket, both at senior and junior levels and I am of the opinion that sooner or later the problem will need to be positively addressed.

"The poor weather of recent seasons has not helped the game but there can be no doubt there is too much cricket being played.

"We are providing quantity rather than quality."

He goes on to state that many players are electing to play just one game at weekends because of, among other things, family commitments, while many of the younger players are getting through four and five games each week, which he suggests "reduces their hunger for the game."

A number of clubs are currently having difficulties fielding full strength teams. First team calls means that many are having problems putting out a second XI and this has had a domino effect with some juniors being rushed into senior cricket before they are ready.

Now the Association are to set up a working party to investigate the structure of the league and are inviting constructive suggestions from both teams and interested individuals.

Ironically, at grass roots level, the game continues to flourish with the Association adding an under nines section this season.

The Bolton League have problems of their own, parfticularly with the non-arrival of some professionals.

At Farnworth Social Circle, officials have been attempting to get a work permit for their new pro Khasif Siddique without too much success, and he will definitely be missing for the opening match against Westhoughton.

Paul Eckersley of Social Circle said: "Apparently because of the trouble in Iraq and the middle east in general, there has been a long delay in the issuing of visas.

"We have been in touch with the embassy over here and with the Pakistan government in Lahore and hopefully we will get things sorted out as quickly as possible but for tomorrow we will have to look at signing a deputy professional."