THE two Championship divisions in the ECB Bradford Premier League have been increased from ten teams to 12 teams next season.

This will do away with the need for any inter-divisional fixtures, which were proving difficult to arrange alongside an independent second-team competition in the merger between the Bradford League and the Central Yorkshire League.

There will be no Sunday league matches either, which should help clubs to put out 22 players every Saturday as some cricketers have been opting not to play on both days.

Altofts, Carlton, Hunslet Nelson and Liversedge are the four clubs who have been 'promoted' from the Conference Division, which will now have 13 clubs in one section rather than 17 split between two divisions.

Hunslet Nelson and Liversedge will go into Championship A Division, and Altofts and Carlton into Championship B Division in the sections that are running parallel below the Premier Division.

Baildon, Birstall, Idle, Keighley, Saltaire, Undercliffe, Windhill and Yeadon have been put into Championship A, while Bankfoot, Bowling Old Lane, Brighouse, Gomersal, Hartshead Moor, Methley and Spen Victoria are in Championship B.

The latter division also includes Townville, Wrenthorpe and Hopton Mills, while the Championship A Division also contains Batley and Ossett.

While Championship A Division contains both of the relegated clubs from Bradford League Division One (Undercliffe and Saltaire) and Baildon and Yeadon, who were third and fourth in Division One in 2015, it also contains three of the weakest Division One teams, plus some of the middling Central Yorkshire League Premier Division teams.

Championship B Division includes three of the top four in the Central Yorkshire League's top flight in Methley (first), Townville (third) and Wrenthorpe (fourth) but a lot of the mid-table Bradford League Division Two clubs.

ECB Bradford Premier League chief executive officer David Young said: "In constructing the championship divisions, we have tried to achieve a good mix of clubs from both the Bradford League and the Central Yorkshire League, while in the associated second team competition, the mix is not quite as strong because we have endeavoured, where possible, to avoid excessive travelling.

"In view of the increase in teams in the championship divisions, there will have to be a review of the structure for the 2017 season, and we will endeavour to notify clubs of this at the earliest opportunity.

"Some clubs' second teams are playing in the opposite section to their first team. Bankfoot, Bowling Old Lane and Brighouse have been moved to the more westerly of the divisions, with Azaad, Batley and East Ardsley being placed in the more easterly one."

Premier Division: Bradford & Bingley, Cleckheaton, East Bierley, Farsley, Hanging Heaton, Lightcliffe, Morley, New Farnley, Pudsey Congs, Pudsey St Lawrence, Scholes, Woodlands.

Championship A Division: Baildon, Batley, Birstall, Hunslet Nelson, Idle, Keighley, Liversedge, Ossett, Saltaire, Undercliffe, Windhill, Yeadon.

Championship B Division: Altofts, Bankfoot, Bowling Old Lane, Brighouse, Carlton, Gomersal, Hartshead Moor, Hopton Mills, Methley, Spen Victoria, Townville, Wrenthorpe.

Conference Division: Adwalton, Azaad, Buttershaw St Paul’s, Crossbank, East Ardsley, East Leeds, Gildersome, Great Preston, Heckmondwike, Northowram, Oulton, Rodley, Wakefield St Michael’s.

Second teams – Premier Division: East Bierley, Farsley, Hanging Heaton, Lightcliffe, Morley, New Farnley, Pudsey Congs, Pudsey St Lawrence, Saltaire, Undercliffe, Woodlands, Yeadon

Championship A Division: Baildon, Bankfoot, Birstall, Bowling Old Lane, Bradford & Bingley, Brighouse, Cleckheaton, Idle, Keighley, Ossett, Scholes, Windhill

Championship B Division: Altofts, Azaad, Batley, Carlton, East Ardsley, Gomersal, Hartshead Moor, Hopton Mills, Methley, Spen Victoria, Wakefield St Michael’s, Wrenthorpe

Conference Division: Adwalton, Buttershaw St Paul’s, Crossbank, East Leeds, Gildersome, Great Preston, Heckmondwike, Hunslet Nelson, Liversedge, Northowram, Oulton, Rodley, Townville.

* Three players have been short-listed for the Bradford League's JCT600Player of the Year Award.

Previous winners Mark Robertshaw (Pudsey St Lawrence) and Chris Brice (Woodlands) are joined by Hanging Heaton opening bat Nick Connolly.