LANCASHIRE legend David Lloyd believes financial difficulties should force the Lancashire League to consider scrapping professionals.

Lloyd has returned to the Lancashire League scene this season to help out at Accrington, who capped a remarkable summer last weekend by completing the league and Worsley Cup double.

And the former England batsman, who had spells as a player at Thorneyholme Road either side of his county and international career, feels the time has come to weigh up the value of professionals.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: “In my opinion professionals are unsustainable in the league.

“It’s such a burden to continue to try and find the money and a number of clubs, financially, are on the edge.

“Even after the success we have had this year we are still in quite a parlous state.

“We have had an unbelievable season and the support has been fabulous but we are still not making money and we are having to work hard to get things right.

“I am saying this from an outside perspective with no axe to grind. I have spoken to a number of officials and just dropped it in.

“It’s pretty obvious that that the days of a ‘cracker-jack’ professional have gone because they are elsewhere and another unsatisfactory thing is that with so many professionals coming and going there are that many sub pros, which is another complication for clubs.

“I’m not saying knock it on the head straight away but it might be worth having a moratorium for a season or two to see how it goes and starting a debate.”

Lloyd’s view will certainly spark a reaction and the league’s management may be tempted to formally consider an issue which has come to the forefront in recent years.

Year-round international cricket and lucrative 20/20 competitions have made it increasingly difficult for the league clubs to attract Test players and the great names of the past, such as Viv Richards and Allan Donald.

Lloyd, a former Lancashire and England coach and now a renowned commentator with Sky Sports, believes that without the annual burden of a professional’s wage – which averages around £10,000 – clubs will find it easier to make ends meet and be able to improve their facilities.

“A significant number of grounds have not changed since I was a lad,” he said.

And Lloyd, 61, believes the absence of a paid-man may not necessarily be detrimental to the level of competition.

He added: “Perhaps it will be an incentive for the amateurs to do more. I have been very impressed with the matches I have seen with the standard of the amateurs.

"There are some good players and some excellent young players.

“If Toby Bulcock at 17 can be man of the match in the Worsley Cup final he can play.

"There’s also Bharat Tripathi at Burnley and Will Driver at Lowerhouse.”

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