PETER Tomlin has stepped down as secretary of the Home Counties Premier League.

Tomlin, who was also the league's registration secretary, tendered his resignation with immediate effect at a committee meeting last night.

In a statement this morning, chairman Martin Phillips said Tomlin had "found himself out of step with much of the thinking of member clubs recently" and did not feel he had their support "in the way that he did in the past".

Phillips continued: "The work load of running the HCPCL is not insignificant and without the total support of members and the general committee he found himself compromised and felt it best that he resign.

"Peter will leave a massive hole, which will not be easy to fill in the short or long term."

He added: "It was with much regret that I and the committee accepted his resignation, we all wish him all the best and it would be true to say cricket in the home counties owes him a debt of gratitude for his many years of loyal work.

"He wished the league future success, which he was sure, would continue provided that discipline was dealt with a firm hand and that applying of the league rules was done without fear or favour."