Essex Outfielder : The Unofficial Essex CCC Forum

Club Administration => Club Administration => Topic started by: essexfan548 on April 25, 2022, 06:41:57 PM

Title: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: essexfan548 on April 25, 2022, 06:41:57 PM
What did people make of tonight's Q & A?

Title: Members zoom forum 25/4
Post by: bwildered on April 25, 2022, 06:45:15 PM
Brief points

Hopefully AGM end May due to investigations  from ECB which is why at present interims in place .
Simon Cooper - interim deputy chair, worked in Whitehall for Sports Minister and also Mayor London departments.
New guests passes 2022 in Members packs.
Careers need Companion Ticket -with proof.
Ground Development -working group to be set up together with Chelmsford City Council.
Changing rooms meet minimum ECB requirements .
Visiting teams to use T20 Office for T20 blast games this season.
Dirty Seating - Seating power wash before start of season might be suffering regards later sand storm .
Bag searches to continue due to safety concerns , ECB, Club and Police.
People to be allowed outfield for Championship games only.
Hoping to have parking at Lady Immaculate depending on fixtures.
Peter Siddle became free agent and hence signed for Somerset.
No change of policy regards young talent, lots players coming and going during season so signing Critchley and Rossington , still got lots of talented batters to grab places.
Will talk to Rossington in June regards signing for two years.
Harmer signed for five years, if called to SA test squad will miss couple Championship and 50 over games stated will only play if guaranteed a place.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 24th
Post by: mawallace on April 25, 2022, 07:33:51 PM
What did people make of tonight's Q & A?

- The Club is in deep trouble with the ECB
- The 'old' committee has been / will be replaced as some of the blame will fall on them
- There's a change of emphasis re the development -  seems to have big ambition to get it right for the next generation - notice nothing seemed off the table - there was even an off the wall remark re location. think the old plans have been scrapped and they are starting again
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 24th
Post by: Perov on April 25, 2022, 08:10:44 PM
I think they mentioned we have been fined £50,000 by the ECB for 2 allegations we had admitted too, but some more issues are pending, so further punishments could be forthcoming.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 24th
Post by: nat on April 25, 2022, 08:24:09 PM
I think they mentioned we have been fined £50,000 by the ECB for 2 allegations we had admitted too, but some more issues are pending, so further punishments could be forthcoming.

£50k is nothing to worry about. The ECB are looking for scapegoats to help get themselves off the hook.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 24th
Post by: essexfan548 on April 25, 2022, 09:57:28 PM
I've queried the answer about the promise of one free CC ticket for every day's play for those who were members in 2020. I sent the e-mail promising this ... will let you know what the response is
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: LeedsExile on April 26, 2022, 07:03:52 AM
Why have we be fined £50,000 when Yorkshire have received no punishment to date? As for bag searches, utterly ridiculous. You are not searched when you go shopping or into bus stations etc. What is the perceived threat? Actually just admit we don't want you bringing your own drink in when we can charge extra for our stuff.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: Crisp on April 26, 2022, 07:16:14 AM
Why have we be fined £50,000 when Yorkshire have received no punishment to date? As for bag searches, utterly ridiculous. You are not searched when you go shopping or into bus stations etc. What is the perceived threat? Actually just admit we don't want you bringing your own drink in when we can charge extra for our stuff.
Spot on
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: mawallace on April 26, 2022, 08:20:11 AM
As for bag searches, utterly ridiculous. You are not searched when you go shopping or into bus stations etc. What is the perceived threat? Actually just admit we don't want you bringing your own drink in when we can charge extra for our stuff.

I wanted to ask - why are there no bag searches when you go to a CC match at The Oval, Edgebaston etc.

 
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: bwildered on April 26, 2022, 12:20:22 PM
What did people make of tonight's Q & A?

 Was hard to take notes, getting use to the styles of the interims. Had a more corporate feel about it all.
Felt a bit sorry for Stephenson with all the extra off field problems he has inherited, together with the redevelopment also a major concern, with a slight hint of relocation has a alternative option.
Likes the idea of one to one meetings, which is ok for locals, but for those who live further afield, a very long day.
Early days of his regime, but still the same  moans and problems has before.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: pablo on April 26, 2022, 03:39:16 PM
Sorry. I'm confused or have lost the plot to date. Why are we being fined £50k? What crime has been committed in law or contrary to the rules, regulations and other statutes of the club or the ECB. Some of this is OUR money in membership fees we are talking about. Can we appeal and if not why not? What would happen if , as anybody or organisation should with any spine, tell them to get lost. As far as I am aware the alleged incidents e.g with Chambers took place in private and Sharif and other never took us to an industrial tribunal. I would have thought we had a pretty good record of playing BAME players regularly in the 1st team some of them of impeccable ethical and moral standards e.g. SaleemMalik,Danish Kaneria, Alviro Pietersen, Mervyn Westfield, Tsobe. Although to be honest we probably should have played those who weren't good enough like Sharif more regularly just to cover our backs.

Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: Valentines Park on April 26, 2022, 04:28:32 PM


I wanted to ask - why are there no bag searches when you go to a CC match at The Oval, Edgebaston etc.

The only thing you need at The Oval is your wallet.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: nat on April 26, 2022, 04:55:56 PM


I wanted to ask - why are there no bag searches when you go to a CC match at The Oval, Edgebaston etc.

The only thing you need at The Oval is your wallet.

A big one.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: bwildered on April 26, 2022, 05:20:30 PM
 ECB 50k fine is for the guilty plea for the alleged racist comments made previously and not investigated properly.
Seems the ECB wants to see that the club is active in procedures and processes being adhered to.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: Slogger on April 26, 2022, 06:06:07 PM
If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: nat on April 26, 2022, 06:24:54 PM
If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

You're not going to find a new 'in town' location are you?
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: Slogger on April 26, 2022, 06:28:55 PM
If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

You're not going to find a new 'in town' location are you?

Very unlikely so I'd stay put. My guess is mass car ownership is going to be increasingly tenuous going forward.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: vim on April 26, 2022, 08:15:49 PM
If the club is unhappy with the fine, they can always seek a judicial review. The ECB will do well, as well as the TCCB did sueing Kerry Packer.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: kingstonj1 on April 26, 2022, 08:17:28 PM
Somewhere round the godawful Beaulieu development would be feasible i suspect, new train station, relatively cost effect land assuming the CG sold for housing, and a notional population on the doorstep. I say notional as i suspect its a desert in the day time and would provide the number of fans you could count on one hand for most games.

It would be a disaster for attendances i think, however; train travel is horrendously over priced, the despite the ramshackle appearance, our town centre location is a huge plus. We are one of the few grounds slap bang in the middle of a town, taunton is too, worcester to a lesser extent, and it must help our attendances no end. in both 4 days cricket and t20 with boozed up off the the train commuters (before anyone takes objection to that, i have been that soldier) who can the  continue there evening out easily after (which they couldnt despite the station at Beaulieu. I think moving would be pointless, we may have a nicer looking more modern ground, but we wont get international cricket and we won't maintain the current attendances.

We could easily spruce the ground up if we so wished.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: kingstonj1 on April 26, 2022, 08:21:29 PM
If the club is unhappy with the fine, they can always seek a judicial review. The ECB will do well, as well as the TCCB did sueing Kerry Packer.

Sadly we would be hung out to dry such is the way of the world these days if we don't be seen to take our medicine, however unfair it is. Someone is always to blame for someones else's misfortune and have to be seen to be paying. Just surprised there have been no claims against the club, by disgruntled former failures...oops i mean players, perhaps there is and we are not aware, perhaps there will be after the ecb conclusions, perhaps part of our fines is going to them, or just perhaps these ex players have such a flimsy case it wouldn't even stand up in today's febrile 'right on' atmosphere.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: SirChef26 on April 26, 2022, 11:29:38 PM
Hopefully Chelmsford council being represented as part of this “ground development team” is an indication that they are willing to assist with our plans, maybe even financially. We won’t find a better location than where we are now, but the ground is simply unacceptable in its current state, which wouldn’t even be fit for National League football, let alone the top level of domestic cricket in England. The whole place needs pulling down and building up again from scratch.

It’s good if true that the club are exploring alternative locations though, maybe it will serve as the cattle prod Chelmsford council needs to assist us. It would be a disaster for them to lose Essex Cricket. However, I agree that we must be careful as an out of town location would be a death knell for attendances, no matter how big and nice the ground is.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: vim on April 27, 2022, 06:33:22 AM
If the club had not faffed about in the past with paying money to a con man and producing unachievable plans, we would be in a new location by now.

I would prefer that a local authority area is chosen for the location that does not have the belt, braces and cycle clips approach that Chelmsford have to Health and Safety.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: essexfan548 on April 27, 2022, 12:21:58 PM
Members [if a member in 2020] are entitled to bring in a guest for free to County Championship matches. You should be getting an e-mail soon about this. I have received a refund for guest tickets for the Kent game.

If a Life Member there is also two one-day passes for the Premier Suite [watching only with free tea/coffee]
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: Andy on April 27, 2022, 01:39:44 PM
If the club had not faffed about in the past with paying money to a con man and producing unachievable plans, we would be in a new location by now.

Now, now I think you mean ‘legitimate businessperson’.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: Mog on April 27, 2022, 03:53:52 PM
If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

Agreed. A new-build would merely produce a identikit Rose Bowl/Chester Le-Street, full of utilitarian plastic white tip-up seats, with minimal imagination, little cover or little alternative to driving.
Chelmsford would work, but the [current] footprint is too small. The Club missed a huge opportunity thirty-or so years ago when the old hospital was for sale, its purchase would have created a site with potential, whilst eradicating the stingy circulation space that still exists and that any raise in capacity would require.
However, Somerset have done a pretty-decent redevelopment on a site just as limited as the ECG - but they possessed imagination -something that ECCC have lacked for twenty years...and longer!

It's not really about providing more capacity - 5,500 is plenty for the vast majority of Essex CCC's requirements, it is about creating a far better environment for the spectators - and once that is in place for sponsors and corporates, but the latter should not be prioritised over the former.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: nat on April 27, 2022, 04:24:41 PM
If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

Agreed. A new-build would merely produce a identikit Rose Bowl/Chester Le-Street, full of utilitarian plastic white tip-up seats, with minimal imagination, little cover or little alternative to driving.
Chelmsford would work, but the [current] footprint is too small. The Club missed a huge opportunity thirty-or so years ago when the old hospital was for sale, its purchase would have created a site with potential, whilst eradicating the stingy circulation space that still exists and that any raise in capacity would require.
However, Somerset have done a pretty-decent redevelopment on a site just as limited as the ECG - but they possessed imagination -something that ECCC have lacked for twenty years...and longer!

It's not really about providing more capacity - 5,500 is plenty for the vast majority of Essex CCC's requirements, it is about creating a far better environment for the spectators - and once that is in place for sponsors and corporates, but the latter should not be prioritised over the former.

Dream on. Any re-development will prioritise sponsors, corporates, players...and then finally, maybe, spectators.

Unless of course the members decide to unseat the board and install a board that truly reflects the wishes of its members and other spectators.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: SirChef26 on April 27, 2022, 10:49:49 PM
If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

Agreed. A new-build would merely produce a identikit Rose Bowl/Chester Le-Street, full of utilitarian plastic white tip-up seats, with minimal imagination, little cover or little alternative to driving.
Chelmsford would work, but the [current] footprint is too small. The Club missed a huge opportunity thirty-or so years ago when the old hospital was for sale, its purchase would have created a site with potential, whilst eradicating the stingy circulation space that still exists and that any raise in capacity would require.
However, Somerset have done a pretty-decent redevelopment on a site just as limited as the ECG - but they possessed imagination -something that ECCC have lacked for twenty years...and longer!

It's not really about providing more capacity - 5,500 is plenty for the vast majority of Essex CCC's requirements, it is about creating a far better environment for the spectators - and once that is in place for sponsors and corporates, but the latter should not be prioritised over the former.
Totally disagree with that. We could shift 10k tickets plus for a Friday night T20. Capacity might be up to standard for Championship games, but it's far too small for T20, meaning that we're forced to charge extortionate prices for Blast matches like £30 a head, pricing out younger fans, basically sacrificing them for the beer drinkers.

I shudder to think of how much cash the club has missed out on over the years due to the outdated facilities at Chelmsford for both corporates and regular fans alike.

Make no mistake, our future as a first class county depends on this redevelopment, whether it be Chelmsford or somewhere else. It has to be correct. Horrible mistakes have been made, they cannot be allowed to happen again.
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: Andy on April 28, 2022, 12:15:58 PM
If the club is unhappy with the fine, they can always seek a judicial review. The ECB will do well, as well as the TCCB did sueing Kerry Packer.

…which was yet another duff decision by an ex-ECCC player who later carved out a career at Lords.  What with non-selection of players because of ethnicity and a certain Yorkshire opener because of ‘slow scoring’.

History never repeats?!
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: Mog on April 30, 2022, 09:04:23 AM
If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

Agreed. A new-build would merely produce a identikit Rose Bowl/Chester Le-Street, full of utilitarian plastic white tip-up seats, with minimal imagination, little cover or little alternative to driving.
Chelmsford would work, but the [current] footprint is too small. The Club missed a huge opportunity thirty-or so years ago when the old hospital was for sale, its purchase would have created a site with potential, whilst eradicating the stingy circulation space that still exists and that any raise in capacity would require.
However, Somerset have done a pretty-decent redevelopment on a site just as limited as the ECG - but they possessed imagination -something that ECCC have lacked for twenty years...and longer!

It's not really about providing more capacity - 5,500 is plenty for the vast majority of Essex CCC's requirements, it is about creating a far better environment for the spectators - and once that is in place for sponsors and corporates, but the latter should not be prioritised over the former.
Totally disagree with that. We could shift 10k tickets plus for a Friday night T20. Capacity might be up to standard for Championship games, but it's far too small for T20, meaning that we're forced to charge extortionate prices for Blast matches like £30 a head, pricing out younger fans, basically sacrificing them for the beer drinkers.

I shudder to think of how much cash the club has missed out on over the years due to the outdated facilities at Chelmsford for both corporates and regular fans alike.

Make no mistake, our future as a first class county depends on this redevelopment, whether it be Chelmsford or somewhere else. It has to be correct. Horrible mistakes have been made, they cannot be allowed to happen again.

The point is that the ECG, even if redeveloped on the current site would not physically, or legislatively, be capable of a 10,000 capacity. The SGSA https://sgsa.org.uk/greenguide/ gives an insight. In essence a capacity of that size would entail strict licensing. One road serving the site would quickly eradicate that option before it reached a planning submission. The alternative is a new build (see my initial reply in this thread). A Club with a track record of plenty of talk and no action in this field....is one where I won't be holding my breath!
Title: Re: Members Q&A April 25th
Post by: Mog on April 30, 2022, 09:07:50 AM
If relocation is on the cards I would suggest avoiding one of these ghastly out of town sites that are over dependant on people travelling by car. The proposed new Southend football ground and the Colchester ground are examples of that. Chelmsford is too small, run down and needing attention but its big plus is a central location in the county and proximity to bus and rail stations.

Agreed. A new-build would merely produce a identikit Rose Bowl/Chester Le-Street, full of utilitarian plastic white tip-up seats, with minimal imagination, little cover or little alternative to driving.
Chelmsford would work, but the [current] footprint is too small. The Club missed a huge opportunity thirty-or so years ago when the old hospital was for sale, its purchase would have created a site with potential, whilst eradicating the stingy circulation space that still exists and that any raise in capacity would require.
However, Somerset have done a pretty-decent redevelopment on a site just as limited as the ECG - but they possessed imagination -something that ECCC have lacked for twenty years...and longer!

It's not really about providing more capacity - 5,500 is plenty for the vast majority of Essex CCC's requirements, it is about creating a far better environment for the spectators - and once that is in place for sponsors and corporates, but the latter should not be prioritised over the former.

Dream on. Any re-development will prioritise sponsors, corporates, players...and then finally, maybe, spectators.

Unless of course the members decide to unseat the board and install a board that truly reflects the wishes of its members and other spectators.

Yes. I prefer to take an idealistic perspective.