Chris Bishop said he was right to come out in support of Kidlington CC despite having to resign from the Oxfordshire Cricket Board (OCB).

Bishop quit as chairman of the OCB’s Clubs, Leagues and Competitions Committee (CLCC) after emailing Oxon clubs to back Kidlington’s fight to remain in The Oxford Times Cherwell League.

But he said: “I offer no apology. I think it was absolutely the right thing to do.”

OCB chairman Chris Clements criticised Bishop for sending out an unauthorised email as he had not run it by the board first and said Bishop’s position had be-come untenable.

Bishop, who is also secretary of Cherwell League club Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts, added: “I regret having to resign.

“I thought it was a clubs, leagues and competitions matter.”

Bishop said his role on the CLCC had been to support clubs where possible and stressed that Kidlington were one of only 12 in Oxfordshire to have clubmark status.

He had been keen to contact Oxfordshire clubs ahead of Thursday’s Cherwell League EGM when Kidlington face a vote of expulsion.

“I felt that we had to do something to make sure that the vote went the right way,” said Bishop.

“The board couldn’t just sit back and allow a free vote without making a contribution.

“I thought that it was acceptable for me to make a contribution, but the board didn’t.

“If you couldn’t stand up for what you thought, then what was the whole point of having the committee?”

Bishop said that Kidlington were turning things round, and deserved the chance to continue in the league.

He said: “I think the situation with Kidlington CC is unfortunate.

“There were and are some problems, but it is something that can be put right over the next few months.

“If they lose the vote, what happens to all their players, especially the kids?”