CHARTERED Accountants Murray Smith are to extend their sponsorship of the Cheshire County Cricket League - which has Widnes in its Premier Division - into a ninth season for 2005.

Senior partner of the Northwich firm, Roy Ramsbottom said: 'We are delighted to be associated with such a dynamic and forward-looking league which is doing so much to develop cricket in Cheshire.'

League chairman David Humpage said: 'We are very happy that Murray Smith have agreed to extend their sponsorship. We will continue to work with them to our mutual benefit.'

Apart from £6,000 financial backing, Murray Smith will continue to sponsor Performance-of-the-Month awards and provide the Young Player-of-the-Year trophy.

Such backing has helped club subscriptions to remain unchanged for 10 seasons and has enabled additional money to be spent on developing youth cricket.

Meanwhile, a year after they had voted to allow players to be paid from any source, clubs at the league management meeting were asked to consider a new rule barring direct payments being made to players from club funds.

Chairman David Humpage said the intention was not meant to affect the league's open status.

Clubs could still employ players as coaches or groundsmen, or they could be paid through patronage.

However, under current European law, the ECB had advised leagues if such a rule was not introduced, players who were nationals of EU countries or their trading partners could insist that if employed by a club they could also play in the league, overriding the current one overseas player ruling.

This matter will be resolved at the management meeting at Winnington Park on Tuesday, January 18, together with a motion allowing clubs to register a substitute overseas player under certain conditions and proposed alterations.

No changes to the league constitution have been proposed for the February 16 AGM at Bowdon.

In other news, the Foundation for Sport and the Arts have made a grant of £50,000 to Cheshire clubs to help them renew old machinery. The grant conditions require clubs to provide 25% of the cost.

Kingsley Cricket Club, of the Cheshire Building Society Alliance, have made changes on and off the field with the appointment of a new club chairman and first-team captain.

Mark Butcher was made skipper at the club's AGM in succession to Kieron Ollier. Andrew Ainsworth continues as second-team captain.

The new chairman is Adrian Burdon, who takes over from Ian Oultram.

Kingsley have two senior teams in the Alliance and an expanding junior section which plays regular friendly fixtures.

Prospective new players can contact Mark Butcher, tel 07881 551755 or Andrew Ainsworth, tel 07976 845231.