THE Marsden BS Lancashire League last night agreed to change the rules over amateur-professional status.

Clubs had become increasingly frustrated by a ruling which stated that a player would be regarded as a professional if they had played one first class match.

Burnley CC had pointed to the case of Mark Harvey-who made his name at the Turf Moor club-but had to play in a different league because he had made one appearance for Lancashire.

And the league last night amended the rule from one to 10 first class county matches before players are regarded as professionals. That means players like Harvey will once again be eligible to play as amateurs in the league.

"It is a situation that clubs had become increasingly concerned about over the past few years," said league secretary Rod Slater.

"The case of Mark Harvey was one that brought the problem into focus."

The meeting was notified of the transfers of Darryl Redhead from Rishton back to East Lancs and of Paul Clark from Enfield to Rishton.

The Junior League will now be known as the Second XI League.

Holders Nelson have been given a bye in the Jennings Worsley Cup.

The first round draw is: Lowerhouse v Rawtenstall; Bacup v Burnley; Haslingden v Todmorden; Accrington v Colne; East Lancs v Church; Ramsbottom v Rishton. Byes: Enfield and Nelson.

Ties to be played on Sunday, May with a reserve date of May 18 with the second XI competition first round is a reverse of the above.

The league hope to name a new sponsor for the competition soon. TONY GARNER reports

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.