DARWEN cricket club have been charged with bringing the game into disrepute following their match against Morecambe a fortnight ago.

Captain Jeff Hacking said he, Graham Parkinson and Andrew Mercer had been asked to attend a disciplinary hearing tonight to answer the charges.

But Hacking said the hearing had been postponed because Parkinson was unable to attend.

He said the Northern Premier League club as a whole and the three players were charged with bringing the game into disrepute.

Hacking said he understood two Morecambe players had written letters to the league, complaining of abuse toward them from certain Darwen players during the game.

The captain said: "I have been ordered to attend because as the captain if anything has gone on that they don't think is right I have to explain why I didn't control the players.

"Me, Andrew Mercer, Graham Parkinson and the club as a whole have been asked to attend.

"What Morecambe are doing is not on. There was no mention of anything in the bar after the game."

Morecambe secretary Brian Wilson said three of his club's players had made complaints.

"The captain, Phil Thornton, Gareth Pedder and Gulan Maje have written letters to the league and they have been asked to attend the hearing," he said.

It is thought the meeting will go ahead next week.

DARWEN currently have a 21 point lead at the top of the league and have a trip to St Annes on Saturday before a local derby at Chorley on Bank Holiday Monday.