Unlike last term, when only those with the relevant badges could officiate in the Peterborough Sunday Morning League, at yesterday's annual meeting it was decided that at times when there is no certified ref, someone from either club can take charge.

The change has been made in a bid to avoid situations where games must be cancelled because, due to the growing demand at all levels of the game, there is no official available.

League chairman Fred Johnson (left) said: "We have decided to make this change to avoid fixture backlogs which develop when games have to be called off because there is no referee.

"Now, as long as the home club has notified the other team by Wednesday night before the game, an individual who is satisfactory to both teams is able to take charge of proceedings."

After it was explained that stand-in referees would be covered by the league's insurance as long as a full pitch inspection had been carried out before the game, the rule change met with no objections from any member club.

n THE Peterborough Morning Sunday League has welcomed five new clubs into the fold for the coming season.

Colts, Hampton, SSPIO, The Blue Boar and Diesel Power should all provide some welcome fresh impetus to the league following the acrimonious departure of last season's PFA Cup finalist's Lord Burghley.

Burghley were stripped of the cup and docked league points for fielding an ineligible player and have since quit the league, a situation Johnson does not wish to see repeated.

He said: "We all welcome the new teams into the league and I am sure it is going to be another cracking season.

"But I would like to warn all the teams, old and new, about checking out the rules. Lord Burghley at one point looked like they were going to win a couple of trophies but they ended up with nothing.

"That is because they didn't check the rules. The moral from that should be that if anyone is in any doubt about something then pick up the phone and ask a league representative, that is what we are there for."