Shipton-under-Wychwood have been given the go-ahead to accept promotion to the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League.

The Cherwell League’s management committee decided at a meeting that they had no objection to Shipton, who finished runners-up last season, going up after vacancies were created in the Home Counties following a breakway by the Hertfordshire League clubs.

To smooth the path for Shipton’s promotion, secretary Richard Giles is to write to all clubs saying that rather than call an extraordinary general meeting to change the constitution, if any clubs were against their proposal they would have to put forward a motion to that effect, which had the backing of ten clubs for an EGM to take place.

Giles confirmed that three clubs would be promoted from each division, but now just one would be relegated.

That means a reprieve for Buckingham, Challow & Childrey, Shipton 2nd, Chearsley, Thame Town 2nd, Wolverton 2nd, Abingdon Vale 3rd, Wallingford 2nd and Great & Little Tew 4th.

Division 10 is set to operate with eight clubs, which would mean four blank Saturdays, most likely to include the first week of the season and two Bank Holidays.