Caister have nailed their colours firmly to the Norfolk League mast as speculation mounts over the identities of the clubs seeking to join the expanded Norfolk Alliance next season.

Caister have nailed their colours firmly to the Norfolk League mast as speculation mounts over the identities of the clubs seeking to join the expanded Norfolk Alliance next season.

If up to 30 teams quit the Alliance feeder leagues for pastures new as has been suggested, the impact on the Norfolk League, currently the county's biggest with 100 teams, could prove to be substantial.

But while the talking over the Norfolk Alliance and Norfolk Cricket Board plans continues, Caister are happy to make their position clear. They want to continue an innings which opened in 1979 and sees them as one of the league's longest-serving outfits.

“We had a very brief meeting and decided that Alliance cricket was not for us,” said Caister club secretary Dick Wedon.

“Our position was that we are quite supportive of the Norfolk League. “We like playing a form of 45-over cricket which produces a winner at the end of it. We have been happy playing Norfolk League cricket and we didn't see any need to think about the Alliance.”

The Allendale Road outfit, who are playing in Division Two, the highest level since they joined the league, have experienced a topsy-turvy season.

After winning Division Three last season, it looked like their golden run of form was set to continue when Tim Sims' side hit the top of the table with a five-match winning streak after losing their opening game. But since then they have not won a game and have slumped to second from bottom of the division.

“In the second half of the season we have lost various players through work commitments and have not been able to field a settled side,” said Wedon.

One notable absentee is leading batsman Simon Kerrison who has emigrated to Australia.

“He has got a new job in Sydney. He left in mid-July but has found a new cricket club already. I think his cricket gear is being sent out to him this week,” said Wedon.

Norfolk's quota of East Anglian Premier Leage clubs is set to remain at six as Downham and Lowestoft will turn down the chance of being promoted this year.