St Lawrence & Highland Court Cricket Club’s demotion from the Shepherd Neame Kent League Premier Division has been confirmed.

The Bridge-based club finished third in the table last summer, but lost their place in the top flight because their Clubmark status had expired.

All clubs playing in the premier division of ECB accredited leagues next season needed to hold Clubmark status on October 1.

St Lawrence gained the status in 2007, but their three-year accreditation expired in January and they failed to renew it in time.

League chairman Nigel Keess announced St Lawrence would be playing in Division 1 during a club meeting on October 13 and the decision was revealed on the competition’s website on Wednesday.

It was also confirmed that Lordswood, who finished ninth in the table, would now stay up.

Errol Valentine, the league’s results and players’ registration secretary, said: "We’re sorry to lose St Lawrence.

"The league has to follow the ECB’s directives which are that all clubs in the top division have to have Clubmark.

"If a side in the league hasn’t got it, all the clubs lose their funding, which equates to about £1,000 a season.

"There’s nothing the league could have done and it’s very sad.

"The ball’s in their court though and if they get Clubmark and win Division 1, there’s nothing to stop them rejoining the Premier Division."

St Lawrence secretary Lewis Jenkins declined to comment.