Clubs wishing to join the Towergate Halifax League are facing stiffer entry criteria.

After an initial contact, where prospective competitors will receive an application pack, the wannabe entrants might not get as far as having member clubs vote on their application at the league’s annual meeting.

A development sub-committee of the league now have the power to reject clubs who do not meet minimum objective criteria – such as not having two junior teams or their ground not being up to Halifax League standard.

All applications for season 2014, for example, must be submitted by September 30, 2012 and, as long as they are not rejected by the development sub-committee, they can make a presentation to member clubs the following February.

Clubs will then vote yes or no at the April meeting and membership will be granted at the November annual meeting.

More information is being requested, such as Clubmark status, so a better assessment can be made of the applicant’s administration.

Clubs are also encouraged to indicate what positives they will bring to the Halifax League, which currently includes 13 clubs from the Bradford area.