Bolton League side Little Lever have named Ray Eccleshare as their cricket manager.

Eccleshare has a proven track record in the League, having managed Tonge to their four consecutive championship wins between 1996 and 1999, a further title win in 2002, plus three Hamer Cup final appearances, including a cup and league double in 1996, and a Lancashire Knockout Trophy success.

After leaving Castle Hill he went on to manage Bolton Cricket Club in the Manchester Association, while during a long playing career, he played at a number of Bolton League and Association clubs.

He is the first manager to be appointed by Little Lever and said: "It's a great challenge for me. I want to be a winner, and so does the club, and that gives us both a great starting point.

"There are some good players here and we are all ambitious. Hopefully it is the start of an exciting time for us all."

Eccleshare's first aim is to appoint a new professional, but he is understood to be close to completing a deal in the next few days for Pakistan pace bowler Mohammed Irshad.

Irshad is reputed to be a top prospect and was considered unlucky not to be chosen for the Test series against India.