MARTIN Phillips is to quit as chairman of the MP Sports Cherwell League, triggering a battle to be his successor.

Phillips, who is also Banbury chairman, took over at the helm three years ago after the late Derek Primett stood down due to ill health.

Describing the job as a “poisoned chalice”, he said: “I was always only going to do the job for two years (I did three) and the committee have known for sometime of my intention.

“It was a job that I really thought I wouldn’t do, but I was glad to try and help.”

Now the league executive have nominated Cumnor’s Roger Mitty to be chairman, but he faces a challenge from former Cumnor member Clive Ricks, who is being backed by Abingdon Vale and Horspath.

Within a year of becoming chairman, Phillips was embroiled in arguably the biggest controversy to hit the league.

He almost quit after a extraordinary meeting called to consider a proposal to expel Kidlington was abandoned in midstream when clubs saw a flaw in the way the proposal had been presented.

But Phillips and his fellow executive members regroup-ed, and Kidlington were subsequently booted out at a later meeting.

He reflected: “There were incidents along the way that I would rather there hadn’t been, but I guess that is the nature of the beast.”

Phillips welcomed a contest for his successor, with the vote to take place at the annual meeting at Bicester & North Oxford on Thursday, November 18 (7.30pm).

He said: “Roger Mitty is the executive’s nomination, as Clive could not make his mind up quick enough, I don’t see any problem in a vote, in fact, I think it’s healthy.”

Mitty, who like Ricks is a former chairman of Cumnor, commented: “My interest is to put something back into the game. I have been playing cricket since I was eight and I am about to retire from work.

“I guess the important thing is continuity .

“I don’t think I would go in there with any pre-conceived agenda. I would listen to people and respond to what the consensus is.”

Now with Horspath, Ricks walked out of an executive meeting with Kingston Bagpuize’s Dick Giles earlier this year after they lost a vote for the league to be represented on an Oxfordshire Cricket Board committee.

He said: “I have played in the league since 1984 and been privileged to serve on the executive under Derek Primett and Martin Phillips.

“In my opinion it is time for us to move forward and I feel strongly that it is time for the executive to listen to the clubs rather than the clubs listen to the executive.”

l HANBOROUGH must apply for re-election to the league after they breached the playing rules by cancelling a 2nd XI match on three occasions.

Cumnor 4th, Oxford 5th and Challow Childrey 3rd’s future will also be considered after they fell foul of the same rule.

Cublington, of the Morrant Four Counties League, have applied to join the Cherwell.

l BOURTON Vale’s Mark Whitney’s outstanding one-year ban in the Cherwell League will not now start until he pays the £150 for his failed disciplinary appeal.