PLANS to make the Murray Smith Cheshire County Cricket League professional have been blocked for the fourth successive year.

Clubs rejected a proposal to drop the word amateur from the league's constitution and thereby allow payments to be made to players.

But the motion appears closer to being passed than ever before following the annual meeting of the league, which has Oulton Park and Winnington Park as member clubs.

Whereas voting at the 2002 AGM was 21-15 against, last Wednesday's ballot at Bowdon resulted in a 14-14 tie, but the motion fell because it did not obtain the necessary two-thirds majority.

A total of 33 clubs attended the meeting, with Cheadle, Oulton Park and Toft absent, but five apparently abstained.

And County League chairman David Humpage also said that he supported the move to become professional amid concerns that clubs already make private payments.

He said: "Had I been able to use my casting vote, I would have gone for change because, as I have said many times before, the present ruling cannot be policed. I hope clubs will remember that if the issue is raised again next season."

The proposal to alter the wording in the constitution was tabled by Premier League club Alderley Edge and seconded by champions Bowdon. The names of which clubs voted for and against was not recorded.

Meanwhile, a loss of £2,225 during 2002 was reported by the County League at the meeting.

Treasurer Brent Wilkinson proposed a freeze in subscriptions for the eighth successive year, but warned that a similar loss in 2003 would mean subs would have to rise and other items of expenditure reduced.

OULTON Park have made the first formal application for an overseas player in 2003.

They want to field 21-year-old Victoria batsman Andy Kent, formerly a member of Australia's Under 19 World Cup squad.

Andy is a graduate of the Australian Cricket Academy and was Lord's Taverners Player of the Year in 2002.

The Little Budworth club has signed wicket-keeper and batsman Mike Bentham from Nantwich while former Winnington Park batsman Danny Leech has left Bramhall to join Oulton.

Oulton Park have a first round bye, then face Darwen or Albrighton in the National Club Championship.

IN Round One of the Quinn Thomas Cheshire Shield, Christleton visit Mottram with the winners at home to Winsford, and holders Middlewich are at home to Mere.

The first two rounds are on Sundays, May 4 and 25, with the final on Sunday, August 31.