Bradford Connect, formerly known as Bradford Deaf, are no longer members of the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League.

They were deemed to have resigned at the league's February committee meeting at the Carlton Club on Little Horton Lane.

Although the club had paid their league fees for 2005, they had not filled in a registration form for the forthcoming season, which was due at the league's annual meeting last November.

Bradford Connect had also regularly failed to attend league meetings and were on a disrepute charge for criticism levied at the league in both the Telegraph & Argus and Asian Eye.

The club wanted the league to pay £15 per meeting for a signer to help their representatives at both the league's monthly meetings and the league's Umpires' Association monthly meetings - Bradford Connect saying they were being discriminated against when the league refused to pay.

League chairman Nick Spachis said at the meeting: "Bradford Connect have continually failed to appear at league meetings, and they were specifically asked to appear at this meeting to discuss the item on the agenda.

"Also they didn't appear at the annual meeting and didn't submit registration forms either and are therefore deemed to have resigned from the league."

However, just to make sure he wasn't going against the general feeling of the meeting, Spachis asked for a vote on Bradford Connect going out of the league, and it was a unanimous 13-0 in favour.

Connect, though, did turn up after the vote was taken and a letter was read out on behalf of the club by league secretary Joy Wigglesworth.

It stated that Bradford Connect's league representative Ishtiaq Ahmed was no longer connected with the club and that they wanted to play in the league in 2005. However, the decision to bar them was upheld.

Nevertheless, it was made clear to Bradford Connect that the way was open to them to re-apply to join the league for the 2006 season.

As a consequence of Bradford Connect's exit, the league will now have three divisions of eight teams in 2005, with Hallfield promoted back to Group B and Keighley United coming back in.

The Sir James Roberts Cup final for first teams will be held at Great Horton Cricket Club on Sunday, July 31.

Because of Bradford Connect not taking part, Buttershaw St Paul's will now have a bye into the second round.

l Bradford League club Saltaire have started twice-weekly indoor nets for first and second-teamers in preparation for the new season.

They are at Bradford & Bingley on Tuesdays (8pm-9pm) and Sundays (3pm-4pm).

The under-15s and under-17s are netting at Beckfoot Grammar School on Fridays (6.45pm-8pm), while the under-13s practice at Bingley Grammar School on Sundays (4pm-6pm).