TALKS have taken place between Dorset rivals Bournemouth and Parley regarding the possibility of a merger, the Daily Echo can exclusively reveal.

Officials from both clubs are expected to meet in the next few weeks to decide whether the move should go ahead with Parley confirming they are holding a management committee meeting on Friday.

Neighbours Bournemouth and Parley, whose respective home grounds are separated by less than a mile-and-a-half, have always enjoyed a fierce rivalry.

Bournemouth, who gained national exposure by winning the Cockspur Cup in 2009, have endured a lean couple of years but boast Southern Premier League status.

Parley, meanwhile, have been Dorset Premier League winners or runners-up in the past four years and a number of their 260 members are understood to be keen to see the club compete in the SPL.

However, with no direct promotion from the Dorset League, it could take Parley years for their second team to climb through the Hampshire League and be in a position to apply to go up.

The Daily Echo understands any prospect alliance would not affect the respective clubs’ flourishing colts sections until at least 2015, if at all.

It is also believed there is opposition in both camps regarding the possibility of the two clubs joining forces.

Bournemouth, whose two SPL teams are currently languishing at the bottom of the Premier Division and Division Three, have accreditation on two pitches at their Chapel Gate headquarters.

Parley, whose main ground is situated on Christchurch Road, also use facilities at Dean Park, which has been leased to Bournemouth University since 1995.

According to Parley’s official website, they have a “partnership arrangement” with Bournemouth University to play Dorset Premier League home fixtures and friendlies at the picturesque venue.

Parley refers to itself as “the top adult, youth and girls club in Dorset”, while Bournemouth claims to be “one of the largest cricket clubs in the country”.

In a statement published on the Parley website after the Echo had revealed news of the talks on Twitter, chairman Graham Stickland said: “We have had two exploratory meetings with representatives from Bournemouth during the last few weeks. These meetings have focused on possible scenarios and structures with a view to assessing both feasibility and levels of motivation.

“Both clubs are under pressure to maintain and provide competitive adult cricket at the highest possible levels.

“Your management committee is meeting this Friday to review the position and consider the possibilities. The next step will be to hold two open evenings for you, the members, to come along, hear the arguments for and against, and ask the important questions which you may have. Only then will any concrete plans be drawn up and voted on at an EGM.”

Bournemouth chairman Malcolm Symons told the Daily Echo: “We are having talks with Parley to establish whether there is any common ground.”