Former Kidlington CC chairman Nick Duval has called for an independent inquiry into the decision to kick his club out of The Oxford Times Cherwell League.

The trouble-torn club were shown the exit door at an extraordinary general meeting three weeks ago when 27 of the league’s 40 clubs voted them out.

Duval feels Kidlington were treated unjustly, and wants either the Oxfordshire Cricket Board – or the England and Wales Cricket Board – to look into the circumstances surrounding their expulsion.

In a statement, he said: “We now need an independent inquiry into what has gone on here.

“If there have been inappropriate actions taken by individuals they should be exposed.

“Such an inquiry should be held by either the OCB or preferably the ECB, who have not been involved, but have the power to make recommendations to prevent such an occurrence from ever happening again.”

Duval believes that an independent inquiry should look into a series of points. Among those he wants answering are: 1 What are the offences that Kidlington are guilty of committing?

2 It was clear that in the event of Kidlington’s expulsion 25 per cent of the league’s teams would gain automatic promotion. Why did the Cherwell League not act to prevent clubs from having a second agenda to expel them?

3 Clubs had also faced a third agenda when the executive threatened to resign en-bloc if not supported.

4 On such an important issue why did the Cherwell League not require clubs to indicate their vote in a way it could be clearly recorded?

5 Why did Kidlington have no right of an appeal, either to the Cherwell League or independent appeal board as per the ECB’s mandate as stated in the Cherwell League’s code of conduct for member clubs?

Cherwell League secretary Peter Tomlin said: “As far as the Cherwell League is concered the matter is over and done with.”

OCB chairman Chris Clements was unavailable to comment on the matter.