LANCASHIRE League champions Clitheroe have been cleared of all charges into paying amateur players after a league investigation.

Three disciplinary hearings took place into allegations that Clitheroe, who won the title in their first year in the competition, paid amateur players and that the club knew or should have known that was ongoing.

The league disciplinary panel also investigated allegations that the Chatburn Road club approached two professional players and offered to pay them as amateur players. The club said any payment would have been made for coaching.

The allegations first surfaced in August and an investigation was launched in September.

After a near six-month investigation which concluded on Monday night, the panel cleared Clitheroe but did criticise the governance at the club saying it had 'grave concerns.'

The panel, who said the case had been ‘enormously damaging’ to the league, released the findings explaining how the decision had been reached.

The four-page statement confirmed that the league considered charges against Clitheroe Cricket Club and three players - Sam Halstead, Harrison Phelan and Kurt Robinson.

Each of the players faced a number of charges around allegations that they had received an inducement and or payment from the club while Clitheroe faced charges of paying the players or knowing that payments or inducements had been made.

In each case the panel decided that the charges could not be proven.

The disciplinary panel’s statement included a number of summations from the panel as a result of the findings.

It read: “It (the panel) has no doubt that these matters have been enormously damaging to the reputation of the Lancashire League and to relationships between clubs and individuals.

“The league has a long and proud history of promoting amateur cricket in its area. Its objects include the fostering and development of local talent and the control of professionalism.

“At a time when other leagues accept wider payments, there is a responsibility on the committee of every club to supervise issues of recruitment and check carefully the circumstances of any transfer from another club whether from the league or elsewhere.”

It added: “The panel has had great concern about the governance of Clitheroe Cricket Club leading to the present situation.

“The evidence before the panel indicated that the same group of three customarily met with and interview players interested in joining the club and negotiated with agents in relation to the recruitment of professionals.

“They held themselves out, and were accepted, as representing the club.

“There was no evidence that their activities were formally monitored by club committees and the panel finds clear evidence of an aggressive recruiting policy which does not accord with the traditional ethos of the league.

“The club is new to the league and the panel entirely accepts that those primary responsible for the running of the club are persons of high probity and standards and is confident that a careful review of club governance will be undertaken.

“For sake of completeness it is recorded that throughout the proceedings there was full co-operation from the officers of the club and that the club books and accounts were made available for inspection.”

The panel also thanked John Swanney, the honorary solicitor to the league, for his work and said he had been subjected to personal and professional criticism and, after one hearing, was the target of personal abuse.

Clitheroe Cricket Club chairman Helen Hewitt said she was ‘delighted’ with the verdict.

She said: “It goes without saying we are delighted and I personally feel like a black cloud has been lifted.

“It took longer than we wanted and we want to get ready for the new season now.

“I think there are lessons to be learned on both sides. We will be reviewing things at the club as we always do. I think Clitheroe have always behaved in a very, very professional way and I would like to think that we can hold our heads high.”

Clitheroe also released a statement to the Lancashire Telegraph.

It read: “At a hearing on February 26, a disciplinary panel of the Lancashire League dismissed all charges against both Clitheroe Cricket Club and its players, Kurt Robinson, Harrison Phelan and Sam Halstead, that they had breached the rules of the league by making and receiving payments to amateur players.

“The panel said that having considered the evidence over three days of hearings and having heard from 21 witnesses, it found the charges not to have been proved.

“It said that it found that the people running the club were ‘of high probity and standards’.”

Clitheroe chairman Robin Sharp said: “I am extremely pleased at the result which has exonerated Clitheroe Cricket Club and its players from all charges.

“This period has been very stressful for all those involved at the club, but a thorough and exhaustive investigation by the league has shown there is no substance to the rumours and innuendo that have been circulating on social media and elsewhere.

“I hope this will be an end to the barrage of abuse that Clitheroe players have been subject to, and that we can get back to playing cricket.”

Lancashire League chairman Mike Bibby said: “I think there are lessons to be learnt on both sides. The worse thing is the length of time it has taken but we have been in the hands of legal people and to a certain extent have had our hands tied.

“The panel were right to say it has not done the league’s reputation any good and probably not Clitheroe’s reputation either but a decision has been reached and we now move on.”

The Lancashire League season, the first as a 24-team division after recent expansion, is set to start on April, 15, with Clitheroe beginning their title defence at Haslingden.