NEWLY-promoted Winton could earn an unwanted entry into Wisden should they be relegated by the Dorset League without a ball being bowled.

The club is facing the prospect of playing the new season in the top flight – before dropping back into Division One, irrespective of where they were to finish.

Winton were informed by the Dorset League that they had not fulfilled the criteria for promotion due to issues surrounding their youth section and Clubmark.

All Premier Division clubs must run at least two youth teams, while Clubmark is a national accreditation recognised throughout the country.

The Dorset League initially approved Winton’s promotion on the proviso they had addressed the matters ahead of the start of the new season.

But in a recent communication, the club was warned it was likely they would be relegated as they had not met the criteria – although Winton have lodged an appeal.

When contacted by the Daily Echo, Wisden assistant editor James Coyle said it would be “very likely” the case would be included in their chronicle section should Winton go down as a result.

Winton clinched a place in the Premier Division for the first time in their history after winning Division One last season. Their Saturday teams also won Division Four and were runners-up in Division Eight.

Writing in the Dorset Cricket yearbook, Winton captain Lee Garrett described their promotion as “our dream” and said the club was “renowned for its youth”. He also said the club had fielded 11 colts in no fewer than six games last season.

Dorset League chairman John Ridout told the Daily Echo: “There are a number of matters which the committee are still discussing. Although Winton did not fulfil the criteria for promotion, they undertook to put in place certain things.

“To our best knowledge and belief, they have not been fulfilled at the moment. They maintain they have fulfilled the criteria and we, as a committee, need to discuss the matter fully. It has been responded to and the league will evaluate it at our next meeting later this month.”

Brian Dobson, Winton secretary and last season’s team manager, said: “The rules say you have to have two youth teams between under-11 and under-16 and they (the Dorset League) just assumed we haven’t because we didn’t enter them in the leagues. We do have a couple of teams so are hoping to have resolved that issue. I think we do more than most other clubs for youth cricket.

“The Dorset League wrote to us to say they were disappointed we didn’t have a youth section and were not progressing Clubmark. One of our members has been working with the Dorset Cricket Centre towards Clubmark so they have been totally mis-informed.”

It is understood Winton, who open their campaign against Blandford on May 5, would consider switching to the Hampshire League should their appeal fail.