Kidlington CC have sounded a battlecry as they prepare to fight to stay in The Oxford Times Cherwell League.

The beleaguered Division 1 club face a vote to expel them from the league at an extraordinary general meeting at Bicester & North Oxford CC on Thursday, January 15.

It comes after ten clubs submitted a motion to the league following the collapse of the league’s annual meeting after the executive committee’s controversial proposal aimed at ousting Kidlington met opposition.

And they face double trouble at the EGM as the executive committee have put forward an identical proposal to the gang of ten in a bid to cover every angle.

But Kidlington - who need a third of those clubs who vote to support them to survive - have declared that they are up for the battle.

In a statement sent out to clubs by chairman Neil Woolerton and vice-chariman John Moss, Kidlington say: “We aim to fight to keep our position in the Cherwell League, and will not lie down and let the executive get their own way, which we hope will be shown when member clubs back us in the new year.”

Kidlington admit that they have been at fault on occasions, but at the same time hotly dispute some of the allegations made against them.

“At no times are we saying we are perfect, but many other clubs have got the same record as Kidlington CC if not worse,” the statement adds. “All we want to do at Kidlington CC is play cricket, which we hope we will be doing next year.

“The Cherwell League executive have made it clear they do not want us in the league, but we believe that the member clubs will back us in the forthcoming EGM. We are sorry that all member clubs have been caught up in the executive’s stance on Kidlington CC.”

They also claim that members of their club have been made scapegoats by the document sent to clubs by the executive committee.

“This is totally unfair as most of the document relates to issues outside of the Cherwell League,” they say.

And, in a bid to seek support, Kidlington add that they are happy to talk to any clubs.