THE future of the Weymouth & District Evening Cricket League is in doubt, Echosport can reveal.

League chairman Bill Trevett says he is “not particularly optimistic” of the competition going ahead this season due to a decline in playing numbers.

The number of teams taking part has dropped significantly in recent years and the 2015 campaign, which is due to begin in the first week of May, could comprise as few as six – if it does start at all.

Trevett is hoping more teams will join before then and any sides, new or old, can register to take part when the league hold its AGM in the main bar at Redlands Sports Hub this Thursday (7pm).

“Falling participation is putting the continuation of the league in peril and new teams are being actively sought,” said Trevett.

“The number of teams has really gone down in the last few years and we only had eight last season.

“I’m not particularly optimistic but we want to keep going if we can. The league has been going since something like 1929 so it would be sad if it was to finish.”

He added: “I sent some stuff out to the people who run teams and said that unless we have more interest the league won’t exist.

“It seems there are so many other things for people to do that they can’t make time to play cricket.”

Trevett confirmed that Wessex Gasworks, who had a disappointing 2014 season, had withdrawn.