The Herts Cricket League is set to scrap the end of season play-offs in the Premier Division.

The current system sees the top four clubs in the division play semi-finals and a final to crown an overall winner.

But the thought from the league committee is that the competition has served its purpose and should now be retired, leaving the champions as the side who tops the standings after the regular season.

In a note on the league's website, secretary Barry Hellewell said: "After nine years the Premier and Championship clubs have decided to abandon the play-offs at the top of the Premier Division.

"This system was a point of difference from the old Home Counties Premier League when all our clubs came back into the league in 2014.

"It is thought that it is no longer necessary or desirable in that the champions ought to be the winners of the league who have after all played 18 games over the season.

"The play-off between the side finishing second bottom in the Premier and runner up in the Championship will continue."

Any decision will be taken after a vote of member clubs at the league's AGM, currently scheduled for February 27.

It was one of a number of changes that are being mooted, with a further one being the extended regionalisation of the lower divisions.

Hellewell said: "There is good support for extending regionalisation up to Division Seven A.

"We all know the reasons for wanting this to happen - fewer miles to travel, less impact on the environment and less time taken out of a Saturday which might persuade more people to play.

"It ticks all the boxes.

"The downside, in a big geographical league like ours, is that not all clubs will benefit to the same degree and some might feel that the new division they find themselves in might provide less competition and, perhaps, a lower standard.

"A few clubs may also find their travel distances slightly increased. However, we, and those who were in favour from the survey feel that we should do this."

A start date of May 6 has been confirmed for league fixtures while the now annual Herts T20 tournament will take place one week earlier on April 29.

There will again be four venues with Potters Bar, Radlett, Hoddesdon and Hertford chosen.

Potters Bar will face Hemel Hempstead and Harpenden play Totteridge Millhillians in group A while Radlett host Bishop's Stortford and St Albans go toe-to-toe with Old Owens in group B.

Group C has Hoddesdon against Welwyn Garden City and Broxbourne against Preston with the final quartet having hosts Hertford play Shenley Village and North Mymms tackle West Herts.

One final proposal for the AGM concerns the Sunday T20 cup with the league planning to offer two events, an A cup and B cup.

The first will be for anyone in between Division One and Division Six B inclusive while the latter will be open to all others from Division Seven A down.

A spokesman for the league said: "We hope that this will even out the standard and persuade more clubs to enter.

"Those clubs with good Sunday availability will be able to enter teams into both competitions providing that they do not breach the eligibility criteria."

As in 2022, the group winners will go through to the knockout phase with the runners-up entering a plate competition.