Following lengthy discussions at a recently called emergency general meeting of the Cornwall Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (CCUA), the meeting voted by a large majority to bring about the dissolution of that association as from the end of this 2008 cricket season.

The CCUA has served as an "independent" managed organisation for 35-plus years and more than stood the test of time in providing panel umpires to the Cornwall Cricket League and delivering of umpire training programmes through local based ACU&S courses.

In January this year, the ECB formed a new Association of Cricket Official (ECB ACO) and instructed all its county cricket boards throughout the country to set up local branches of their new association. This, to fulfil previous Memorandum of Understanding agreements between those parties and of which county boards must meet in order to fully benefit from ECB target achieving grant awards.

Disappointingly, neither the ECB ACO nor the Cornwall Cricket Board, during their discussions showned a willingness to consult or liaise with the CCUA and therefore, it was left to their own management committee to move this issue forward by calling an EGM of its membership to ascertain their preference as to the future route it should take within the structure of Cornish cricket.

Although a case was presented "against" adoption of proposal that would result in the demise of the independent body, as previously "open" to anyone with an interest or active participation as a cricket match official, the meeting felt they really had no alternative but to go along with the new ECB setup. Had they not done so, there was strong likelihood that Cornish umpires would, in future, be denied opportunities to officiate Cockspur Cup and other ECB competition matches and that could include Premier League'fixtures. Also, funding would become more problematic and the association would further be denied access to running of the new ECB umpire training courses that will, hopefully, materialise sometime in the future!

According to ECB acquired information, some 70+ Cornwall based residents have already joined ECB ACO and thereby, be holding of dual' membership. This is far greater number than the present membership of CCUA and promises much for next season, when it is hoped these new acquisitions will come forward to stand in Cornwall Cricket League Division Two matches, which has been starved' of official Panel umpires during recent seasons. All those persons should, in imminent months, be invited to the inaugural meeting to form the CACO and to appoint a committee and acceptance of ECB ACO Constitution or MoU.

Provided members maintain their annual registration and subscription to the ECB ACO, they will automatically be members of their local county branch and without further payments.

Any member who has joined ECBACO and is concerned about lack of confirmation of membership; non-receipt of a welcome pack; or not receiving a newsletter, should contact Sam Greaves of ECB, by e-mail: sam.greaves@ ecb.co.uk, or write to: ECB Association of Cricket Officials, Lord's Cricket Ground, London, NW8 8QZ.

Information about ECB ACO and details of their training programme can be found on the website - www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/ecb-association-of-cricket-officials.