A bid to streamline matches and put an end to late finishes has been put forward.

But any new format for the Harrogate and District Tennis League will not be introduced in time for the coming season at the end of April.

However, a range of options will be put forward to the 53 teams ahead of any change for season 2004.

League secretary Ian Hargreaves said he was making the suggestions because currently matches were simply too long.

He revealed figures which showed in Division One last season's average was 43 games while some had gone up to as many as 51.

And, he pointed out, not all clubs had floodlight facilities which meant some matches ending in dwindling light.

"They often started at 6.30pm and did not finish until around 10pm," he said.

"Some clashes had gone on so long that there were players who were simply getting tired, and suffering from a lack of concentration."

President Jack Keir warned members that the changes were a "very big step."

And he added: "You need to give it close scrutiny."

Harrogate Racquets Club teams were assured options would be discussed by the committee and then presented to members before any action was taken.

Meanwhile, the League has resolved its chairmanship crisis. For two years the League has operating without a chairman, but this week Ian Teasdale of Wetherby Castle Garth broke the deadlock and stepped forward to do the job for a year.

Teasdale, who is also chairman of the Wetherby club and represents them in Division Four, has been a member for 12 years.

Additional teams were approved from Raskelf and Northallerton, playing in an expanded sixth division.