Beleagured Oxford Times Cherwell League chiefs have rallied round after the shock of abandoning their annual meeting in midstream.

They were left red-faced after bringing the AGM at Bicester & North Oxford CC to a premature end last Thursday when clubs rebelled over their controversial proposal aimed at ousting Kidlington CC from the league.

The executive committee held crisis talks on Monday night when it was thought that resignations may be in the air.

But no-one quit, and now they are to take legal advice from a firm of solicitors in Milton Keynes.

“We cannot give any comment,” said league secretary Peter Tomlin. “We are having a meeting with lawyers, and then we will have to report back anything that happens.

“We had a very full and frank discussion. The executive agreed that myself and Martin Phillips (chairman) will visit solicitors, and within the next seven to ten days everything will become clearer.”

Tomlin added that they had already been given legal advice that they still retain power — despite the annual meeting not being completed before they could be re-elected.

“The meeting was adjourned and that could happen for any reason — the lights going out, the roof falling in or a bomb scare,” he said. “Until such time as there is an election we will carry on doing the job.”

It appears the most likely outcome will be that the executive will call an extraordinary general meeting in the new year.

With the league showing no sign of backing down, Kidlington’s membership is again likely to be on the agenda.

And the outcome of any vote there could yet determine whether Kidlington are thrown out or whether members of the executive resign.