The Sandy Lane club will join forces with town rivals Leyland and Farington next season.

The Evening Post understands the new club will play under the name of Leyland Cricket Club at Fox Lane.

Motors' future has remained in doubt for many months.

But it is believed their ground has now been sold by the club's trustees and will become a leisure complex, which has forced the cricket club out.

The move will need rubber-stamping by Northern Premier League officials and the English and Wales Cricket Board – but that only seems a formality now.

Neither Leyland club would comment today, but a Northern League official said: "We believe the switch is done and dusted.

"The league will look favourably on this move, because Leyland Motors have been left in a very difficult situation."

Motors were scheduled to start their new campaign at St Annes on April 21, but today's development will leave the Northern League a club short for next season.

It is understood Leyland Motors skipper David Makinson, the former
Lancashire all-rounder, will captain the new team.

Leyland Motors were formed in the 1920s as a sports and social club for the employees of Leyland Motors, and they also had a spell playing under the name Leyland DAF.

Motors' only championship success has to be traced back to 1973.