OLD Crossleyans have resigned from the Spenser Wilson Halifax League.

The resignation of the Division One club was accepted by the league at an executive meeting.

Formed in the late 1970s and playing at Broomfield Avenue – home of Old Crossleyans Rugby Union Club – Old Crocs CC were struggling for players in the 2016 season.

In a statement at the league's committee meeting, league chairman Anthony Briggs said: "Old Crossleyans struggled to raise two full teams on a Saturday this season on many occasions and the club are currently discussing options on how to proceed but have warned the league that they are currently discussing the future of the cricket club."

The Telegraph & Argus understands that Old Crossleyans Cricket Club's committee have since decided to disband their Sunday section – ironically the most successful team in the club – in order to alleviate the lack of players.

However, this move apparently proved so controversial that the committee resigned en bloc, leading to the club's eventual demise.

Old Crossleyans' first team finished fifth in Division One in 2016, while the second team were next-to-bottom in Division Two, but the third team were runners-up in Sunday League Division One and lost their Rod Warhurst Cup semi-final by one run to eventual runners-up Blackley.

Denholme Clough were the other Halifax League club under the most serious threat due to their new landlord asking for £625 per month rent.

Briggs said: "They may be playing at Exley (Secondary) School in Halifax, while a longer-term option could be to play at former Halifax Association club Wainstalls, which hasn't staged cricket for about ten years and would not be ready for next season."

Greetland and Old Town, who finished in the bottom two places in the Terry Wynne Second Division, are both up for re-election at the league's annual meeting tonight.

In his statement to last league meeting, Briggs said: "Greetland could only field one team this season and as it currently stands that will be the case next season.

"Old Town also struggled to get two teams out on some occasions but they were not the only clubs – there were other teams struggling across all divisions of our league.

"While league rules clearly state that a club must field a first and second team, we recognise these are challenging times.

"The executive strongly believe that all clubs should operate with two teams but equally we do not wish to see member clubs lost to the league.

"So when making your deliberations at your clubs, please note that the executive are considering plans for clubs with one team to continue to play in the Halifax Cricket League on a 12-monthly basis, which will be reviewed at the end of each season on the premise that any club operating with just one team is taking proactive steps to get back to two teams."