The Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League will remain independent when a new pyramid system is introduced into Yorkshire cricket next year.

Two England & Wales Cricket Board Premier Leagues exist in the county already and this will be expanded to four in 2016.

Drakes officials were invited to make the Huddersfield & District League a feeder into one of the new Premier Leagues – based around the Bradford League top division – but the Executive have declined.

It would have meant losing top clubs on a regular basis, with the champions being promoted each year and others needing to be found from elsewhere, so the Drakes hierarchy have told the Yorkshire Cricket Board they intend to stay as a Senior League and monitor what happens with the pyramid system.

Huddersfield’s Byrom Shield winners – the Premiership champions – will continue to be invited to take part in the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy.

Drakes League chairman Trevor Atkinson explained: “We had a meeting with the YCB when our league were offered the opportunity to become a feeder into a new ECB Premier League based generally around the Bradford League First Division.

“The Executive, after considering all the implications, decided it would be in our best interests to continue as an independent Senior League within Yorkshire cricket.

“The YCB have accepted that and understand our decision, and the relationship between our two bodies remains very cordial.

“We have been promised that in the event of the Black Sheep competition being revamped, the winners of our Premiership will always be invited to take part.”

The four new Premier Leagues for 2016 will be the ECB North Yorkshire/South Durham League, the ECB Yorkshire League North (comprising current north-based Yorkshire

Premier League clubs plus the top five York Senior League clubs), the ECB Yorkshire League South (with the seven remaining Yorkshire Premier League clubs plus the top five South Yorkshire League clubs) and, finally, the ECB Bradford Premier League.

“There will no doubt be plenty of publicity to come about the launch of the new pyramid system and the fact we are not involved may come as a disappointment to some,” added Atkinson.

“Any club who require further details on the situation are very welcome to contact either myself for our general secretary Norman Clee.”

The Drakes League has expanded in each of the last two seasons by four clubs and now has a membership of 38, playing in three divisions – the Drakes Premiership (14 clubs), Jedi Sports Championship (12) and Cedar Court Conference (12).

This coming season, new match regulations, rain rule and a system of bonus points are to be tried out for the first time.