BURY captain Jon Wiggans says he is in favour of the GMCL’s new lineal structure from 2020, but insists he does not want to be playing Championship cricket next summer.

Wiggans is targeting a top-two finish and promotion from Division One B.

The opening batsman describes his side’s start to the summer as “up and down” – three wins, three defeats and two No Results, the latest Saturday’s home washout with Edgworth.

He is hoping the previous Saturday’s 20-run win at Greenmount can be a springboard for a side who include 18-year-old Zimbabwean professional Milton Shumba and fellow new recruit, South African overseas amateur Wic Vissar.

From 2020, the GMCL restructure will see a new Championship division below the Premier instead of Divisions One A and B.

Then it will be Divisions One, Two, Three and then Four and Five West and East.

The Championship will be made up of the four relegated Premier sides and then this season’s teams three to six in each of One A and One B.

That means that if Bury do not win promotion, they must finish sixth or above to avoid dropping into the GMCL’s third tier.

“It can be a bit stick or twist with your aims for the season,” said Wiggans, the oldest player in Bury’s first team at 35 and who hit a brilliant 145 in a narrow defeat at Stayley last month.

“But I do honestly believe we have the players for promotion, with lads pushing for places from a strong second team as well.

“I think the GMCL has been a breath of fresh air. Every game has a really competitive feel about it with the promotion and relegation. 

“I’m in favour of the more lineal structure they’re bringing in. 

“We knew there would a few seasons of finding your feet for the league with various clubs joining from here and there.

"But after this season, it will show you exactly how good your club is within the local area.”

On performances this season, he said: “We’ve shown glimpses of brilliance.

“But our only time we’ve been good with both bat and ball was against Greenmount last Saturday.

"It was good to beat a local side who came down from the Premier Division.

“They are hoping to bounce straight back up, but they’ve been half and half like ourselves.

"But it does give you confidence because you start a season thinking, ‘They’re going to be up there’.

“We are sixth at the moment, and hopefully we can kick on.”

All-rounder Shumba is a current Zimbabwe under-19s international in his first spell as a professional.

Wiggans added: “Milton’s a very talented lad who has a bit of class with the bat. He got a good 66 against Greenmount.

“I know from personal experience it’s not the easiest being so far away from your family.

"I did the same thing in New Zealand seven years ago. And Milton’s only 18. 

“We’re trying to give him as much support as we can and hope he continues to grow as the season goes on.”

Meanwhile, Bury are hosting a ladies day at their Radcliffe Road ground on Saturday, July 20, when they host Dukinfield.