The chairman of the Home Counties Premier League’s umpires panel has hit back at criticism of a potential boycott of Aston Rowant by officials, following the fracas there last season when two players came to blows.

League umpires were due to meet last night to discuss the possible boycott, which prompted critical comments on the Oxford Mail’s website.

Panel chairman John Reed said he was acting out of a “duty to our panel’s members” and denied he was on a personal crusade.

Reed said: “I received several phone calls from panel umpires expressing concern about the incident at Aston Rowant and the way it was dealt with.

“It was therefore felt the need to call a meeting, so the panel could have an honest and open discussion to clear the air.

“I am certainly not on a personal crusade against anyone.

“I believe the meeting will put forward proposals to the league management to ensure that the way this was dealt with will not happen again.

“The umpires panel is completely independent of the league management and we have already expressed to them our dismay at their handling of this matter.”