KEIGHLEY United's application to join the Bradford & District Evening League has been unanimously rejected.

The club, who would have played at Keighley Cricket Club, were honest enough to admit that they would be using the same officials and many of the same players who were involved with Stonewhite.

That club, who also used the Lawkholme Lane venue, were suspended from the league in July following alleged threatening behaviour.

Tom Priestley, who retired as chairman at the league's annual meeting at East Bierley Cricket Club, said: "There was an incident this season, and they did not turn up for the disciplinary meeting, which wasted the time of members of the disciplinary committee.

"There were other issues regarding behaviour, and there were problems in 2015 as well."

The vote to reject Keighley United was nine for and none against.

West Bowling and Yorkshire LPS resigned from the league by letter before the annual meeting, while Idle also applied to join the league, but failed to turn up at the meeting, so will not become members.

Omars have changed their name to the Adil Rashid Cricket Academy.

League secretary Phil Poole, who took over from Steve Priestley, said that 34 of the 114 matches in 2016 either didn't start or were not completed due to bad weather, while two games were conceded.

The Steve Priestley Memorial T20 match at Copley raised £2,700, which was split between Elland's Overgate Hospice and Copley Cricket Club, with the hospice receiving £1,800.

Brian Lymbery has moved from vice-chairman to chairman, while Graham Langton is the new vice-chairman.

League president Geoff Fisher said: "Tom Priestley had dedicated 34 years of his life as league chairman, he has been part and parcel of the league and will leave a massive void, but we hope that he will still visit one or two of the grounds each week."

Start times for the league have been brought forward five minutes to 6.30pm, while fines for not attending league meetings or the annual meeting has gone up from £5 to £10, as has the deposit for lodging an objection.

The fine for not having an umpire has risen from £15 to £20, while the fine for an umpire not turning up has risen from £17.50 to £20.

Chris Brown will run the league's team in the West Yorkshire Area Cricket Council's Knockout Cup.

The league made a profit of £178.60 for the year ending October 31, 2016.