Baildon face a year in the wilderness as they bid to regain the Bradford Scratch League title.

And after being denied a hat-trick of titles last season by Northcliffe, captain Howard Thorpe admits it could well be a fight against relegation this time.

With the course still closed because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, Baildon will play all their league matches away.

Even if restrictions are lifted before the end of May, the decision to allow Baildon to switch matches to their opponents' courses will remain in place.

That will be a serious blow for the club, the unique qualities of their moorland course playing a big part in giving definite home advantage.

Thorpe already has the handicap of losing Chris Hargreaves, who is unavailable because he plans to travel abroad for much of the year, and junior Tom Gooding, who is to play for West Bradford.

"If we manage to stay in Division One this year it will be quite an achievement," said Thorpe. "We will obviously be trying very hard to retain our status, but it is clearly going to be very tough. If I have to be honest, we will do well to avoid relegation.

"I didn't want to lose Tom, but he is also a member at West Bradford and when they offered him a regular place in their team I was not going to stand in his way. It would not be fair to him.

"But I would like to say that the response of the other Bradford Union clubs has been absolutely fantastic. I wrote to all of them asking for their assistance in this difficult situation and got a reply from all of them. They have been incredibly supportive in offering facilities to our members."

The Bradford Union have already had to move the clubmans' championship from Baildon. It has been switched to South Bradford on Sunday, May 27. Anyone who wishes to play in the competition at the new venue who has not already done so has until next Monday to get their entry to competition secretary Alan Barraclough.

The Bradford Society of Past Captains' spring meeting on Wednesday, June 20 has been moved from Baildon to West Bowling.

Starting times are still available for that event from 10.30am to 2pm, and members should contact their linkmen or secretary Richard Dracup (0113-257-8361) to book.