Essex Outfielder : The Unofficial Essex CCC Forum

Club Administration => Club Administration => Topic started by: pablo on July 28, 2026, 04:29:14 PM

Title: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: pablo on July 28, 2026, 04:29:14 PM
Have I missed something? Where did she come from? Who elected her? Has anybody ever seen her? She may be an Olympian but does she know much about cricket? I am reassured though that as a seeming champion of inclusivity and equal opps she was appointed under an open, transparent and objective appointment process ( still I suppose she couldn't be worse than a couple of recent chairs - one struck off, and another resigning after a few days!)
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: nat on July 28, 2026, 04:53:51 PM
Very disappointing. Another woke appt.
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: essexfan548 on July 28, 2026, 05:01:32 PM
"Lewis, a former professional athlete and an Olympian, joins the Board having served as Chair of Essex Cricket in the Community for the past three years, where she has driven engagement and inclusivity initiatives across the county."

She's been involved with local cricket so she does know about the sport unlike a certain other county's CEO who can only talk about her former sport.
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: Essexfan8899 on July 28, 2026, 05:08:22 PM
You only need to look at Lancashire to realise what is going to happen next.

Men's first team becomes marginalised as focus shifts to developing the ground into a venue for revenue generation, women's game and inclusivity.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of developing these areas as they are important to every club, but not not at the cost of the mens first eleven.

The priority and investment must be on the men's first team playing competitive Div 1 red ball cricket and challenging for the title, whilst also being competitive in the the white ball formats.

The future, sadly, does not look good for achieving these goals under her leadership.
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: nat on July 28, 2026, 05:27:08 PM
You only need to look at Lancashire to realise what is going to happen next.

Men's first team becomes marginalised as focus shifts to developing the ground into a venue for revenue generation, women's game and inclusivity.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of developing these areas as they are important to every club, ?


Well I?m not. Professional sport should be all about excellence and men?s cricket is a better product than other flavours.

We?re seeing the destruction of merit-based activity on the alter of diversity.
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: bwildered on July 28, 2026, 06:13:10 PM
Have I missed something? Where did she come from? Who elected her? Has anybody ever seen her? She may be an Olympian but does she know much about cricket? I am reassured though that as a seeming champion of inclusivity and equal opps she was appointed under an open, transparent and objective appointment process ( still I suppose she couldn't be worse than a couple of recent chairs - one struck off, and another resigning after a few days!)

 Your new board elect her has chair.
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: vim on July 28, 2026, 06:54:27 PM
Any dissent from the party line, and you will be purged. Ask John Farragher, all about it.
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: pablo on July 28, 2026, 08:05:59 PM
I still don't remember her standing for election for any post that the membership had an opportunity to vote upon. I could be wrong. Could anyone please clarify?
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: vim on July 28, 2026, 08:20:29 PM
If unsatisfied with the appointment, and it is an appointment. Call for a vote of non confidence, and a demand that she stands for election against any other candidates that might put themselves forward.
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: essexfan548 on July 28, 2026, 09:20:12 PM
You only need to look at Lancashire to realise what is going to happen next.

Men's first team becomes marginalised as focus shifts to developing the ground into a venue for revenue generation, women's game and inclusivity.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of developing these areas as they are important to every club, but not not at the cost of the mens first eleven.

The priority and investment must be on the men's first team playing competitive Div 1 red ball cricket and challenging for the title, whilst also being competitive in the the white ball formats.

The future, sadly, does not look good for achieving these goals under her leadership.

Why not give her a chance - the Lancashire situation is very different. [My friend is a Lancs vice president].

At least this person has been involved in cricket.
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: pablo on July 28, 2026, 09:37:01 PM
Yes. Happy, I suppose ,to give her a chance but my concern since the Farragher fiasco is that the club is moving further away from a membership club to a self serving Board with little scrutiny from members themselves. It used to be simple. The members voted for a committee to run the club on their behalf and who we could unelect if they failed . Now we have a labyrinthine governance structure where nominees and ex officios just appear and come from left field just to appease some ECB ( that exemplar of fair and even handed management)right on dictat. That's not transparent or democratic or,dare I say it, fair.
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: essexfan548 on July 28, 2026, 09:46:26 PM
Yes. Happy, I suppose ,to give her a chance but my concern since the Farragher fiasco is that the club is moving further away from a membership club to a self serving Board with little scrutiny from members themselves. It used to be simple. The members voted for a committee to run the club on their behalf and who we could unelect if they failed . Now we have a labyrinthine governance structure where nominees and ex officios just appear and come from left field just to appease some ECB ( that exemplar of fair and even handed management)right on dictat. That's not transparent or democratic or,dare I say it, fair.

We did recently vote for the committee and they chose her as chair. I don't think we have ever selected a chair ...
Title: Re: Rachel Lewis - New Chair
Post by: Caughtright on July 28, 2026, 10:16:45 PM
Ah the usual torrent of positivity on this merry forum. Yes of course it might all go finches up again, but please let us give the lady a chance. The recent performances of some gents as Chair suggest that accusations of wokery seem inappropriate and irrelevant.