Hadley USC are back in the Shropshire Premier

The Mid Shropshire champions were voted into the Shropshire Premier League last night with the support of nine member clubs, after the EGM at which the decision was made was deferred until after the annual meeting.

That move, at the instigation of league chairman John Nash, was made so that clubs could first vote on a Wem USC proposal to cut the number of male bowlers per side from 12 to 10.

If that had been passed it could have saved Ford – who withdrew from the league citing a lack of players of sufficient standing – and made the EGM unnecessary.

Former Ford chairman Andy Jones told the AGM at Meole Brace BC in Shrewsbury that a cut to 10-a-side would probably cause them to withdraw their resignation. But the Premier clubs voted 9-3 in favour of staying with 12,.

It paved the way to a long debate on whether a new club should be invited into the Premier to retain its full complement of 14 teams – and whether that was possible under the league's existing rules.

Steve Roberts of Wrockwardine Wood said: "It's common sense – it's about what the clubs want."

Ten clubs voted in favour of having 14 teams and Premier newcomers Burway, who beat Hadley USC in October's play-off final, proposed the Telford club should be invited in.

That was seconded by St Georges, while Ifton proposed beaten play-off semi-finalists Hanmer – but did not get a seconder.

Founder members Hadley USC then got nine votes in favour of a return and are now back in the Premier – their first game being away to St Georges on April 5.