With four matches to go in the JCT600 Bradford League Division One season, Saltaire skipper Ijaz Khan reckons there are still five clubs trying to avoid relegation, including his own.

Farsley , who are currently bottom on 130 points, visit Roberts Park on Saturday, which, with Saltaire third from bottom on 156 points, makes it a huge contest.

Undercliffe , who are second from bottom on 132, are at fifth-placed Bradford & Bingley this weekend, and Saltaire have also to visit Wagon Lane on September 9.

Khan also reckons that ninth-placed Hanging Heaton (156 points) and eighth-placed Pudsey Congs (159) are not safe either, with Congs yet to go to Farsley (September 8) and Saltaire yet to travel to Hanging Heaton (September 15).

Khan said: “Anyone from the bottom five could go down, and you don’t want to leave anything to chance, but I reckon that if we beat Farsley on Saturday then we will stay up.”

It has been a generally frustrating season for Saltaire – and not just because of the weather.

Khan said: “We haven’t been able to finish sides off but we have also been hampered by the conditions.

“We could have beaten Lightcliffe twice and we were 19-0 chasing 95 against Woodlands last Saturday.

“But the good thing is that we have been competitive all season, apart from when Manningham Mills beat us.”

Other than that, the most pleasing thing about the campaign for Khan has been the development of bowler Kamran Anwar and batsman Farhan Khan.

Another plus could be wicketkeeper Michael Thornton , who was promoted from the second team to fill a problem position.

“He did well at Woodlands and we’re letting him keep for the last few games with a view to giving him it full time next season,” said Khan.