Reman Services skipper Mal Serplet insists his main priority is hanging on to his side’s best players after the Shrewsbury club became the first Shropshire side to reject the chance of promotion to the Birmingham Cricket League.
The Albert Roaders held several meetings to decide the way ahead before finally deciding to stay where they are in the Marston’s Shropshire Premier League.
Now Serplet is focusing on repeating this year’s runaway title success and persuading some of his club’s most talented players, the likes of ex-Shropshire captain Mark Davies and South African allrounder Wendall Wagner, to commit their futures to the club.
“We play to win and it would be great if we could repeat the feat of this year of going through the season unbeaten so that’s something to aspire to,” said Serplet.
“A lot of the guys in the team are local and probably could have gone to other clubs so my main priority now is holding on to people like Mark Davies and Wendall Wagner who could both easily play at a higher level.”
Australian batsman Serplet admits that, from a personal point of view, he would have been keen to lead Reman into the Birmingham League, but added he fully supported the decision club members had reached in opting not to move up the cricket pyramid.
“Reman are my club and I’ll support whatever’s been decided,” said Serplet. “ I would have liked to go up and a lot of the guys were up for the challenge of playing in the Birmingham League.
“I think we would have done better than the likes of Wem and Oswestry who came straight back down as we’ve got a strong squad and a winning mentality so I think we would have been all right.
“We’re a close knit bunch and a lot of the players have been together for a long time. I think a lot of clubs in Shropshire envy our social side and the way we play our cricket.”
Ken Price, the Reman Services chairman, left the door open for his club to one day push for higher division cricket.
But to be in a position to apply for a place in next season’s Birmingham League, Reman would have had to hastily form a third team and, significantly, find a ground for them to use.
“After comprehensive discussions involving all club members, and investigation of all options, Reman Services have decided to remain in the Shropshire Premier Cricket League for the 2009 season,” said Price.
“The club acknowledge we are the first club from the SPCL to decline the opportunity but wish to build upon what is a solid club structure. This decision does not display lack of ambition but will ensure that we are fully prepared for promotion should we be in a similar position in the future.”
• Awards time – page 82, Shrewsbury Chronicle/North Shropshire Chronicle, October 23, 2008.