THE Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League looks set for an historic revamp.

For the first time, clubs could play in three divisions based on merit.

At the moment, 14 teams play in the Premiership and the other 16 in two parallel Conferences.

However, a rejig determined by ability will now be voted on by the clubs.

The move would mean the retention of a 14-club top flight and two divisions of eight, with a new end-of-season cup competition for the bottom two divisions.

This suggestion has been driven by the clubs themselves amid claims the current system isn’t competitive enough.

Proposed by Armitage Bridge, it has been supported by the League Executive and will come in for 2010 providing it gets the backing of at least 20 clubs at December’s annual meeting.

Under the new system, the top-flight fixture format would remain unchanged, with sides in the bottom two divisions playing each other three times before the new League Cup competition starts.

At the end of next season, the Cedar Court and Frank Platt Conference champions will be promoted into the Premiership along with the Conference play-off winners, while three clubs will be relegated from the top flight.

It’s mooted the three relegated clubs will go into the new middle division alongside the play-off final losers and the third and fourth-placed teams in each conference.

The bottom four in each conference will form the new bottom division.

If the system is adopted for 2010, it will be two up and two down between each division.

Drakes League executive secretary Trevor Atkinson said: “The League Cup will give the lesser clubs who are never really in with a chance of winning the Sykes Cup an opportunity to play in a knockout competition against similar-matched sides.

“A local charitable organisation has already pledged £400 to fund the new trophy which should provide plenty of end-of-season interest for the all the non-Premiership clubs.”

Votes on the proposal, along with other rule amendments, must be returned to administration secretary Judith France by November 20.