RETIRED umpire Dickie Bird could be called in to end a row between village cricketers and their local league.

The Birstwith club, near Harrogate, will pull back from the brink of High Court action if the dispute is allowed to go to mediation - and the former Test supremo is favourite to make the ruling.

A hear-all-sides session under an independent, impartial chairman is being suggested to resolve the escalating dispute between the club and the Nidderdale League over docked points.

The row erupted when Birstwith had six points deducted by the executive for failing to complete the move of fast bowler Ian Bass, who began his career with the club and wants to end it there, using the right paperwork.

Amid talk of legal action and bills for costs, league officials called two club members to a meeting at Ripley Castle, home of their president and management committee chairman Sir Thomas Ingilby.

What they were told behind closed doors resulted in an emergency session of club members at the weekend.

That meeting gave unanimous backing to Birstwith's chairman, solicitor Peter Olley, who first broke silence on the issue, and resulted in a statement from the club that it wanted to "make it abundantly clear that it was keen to resolve the dispute with the game."

Birstwith members feel the punishment - which has hit championship hopes - is too severe for an administrative error and have threatened High Court action.

Mr Olley said: "We can get all parties together and resolve this issue. Perhaps what we need to do is call in a respected, fair-minded mediator, somebody like Dickie Bird whom everybody respects, so that we get a fair hearing.

"Our only complaint is that we have not had one so far. The points deduction was made without the club being able to put its case. As long as we have a hearing and are treated fairly, we will take our medicine."

But Mr Olley said if its plea for a mediator was rejected, the club would review its options - and still had the possibility of going to court to seek a judicial review.

Sir Thomas was not available for comment.

PICTURE: Dickie Bird: Could make ruling in village cricket dispute