Members forum 4th October

[Blocky]

anyone else go to this?

I thought it was reasonably well attended with probably 50-60 members.  Intro'd by Peter N as usual and then Chairman and CEO both had a fair bit to say.

Basically JF is adamant that he has not voted in favour of option (4?) but to give the ECB  a chance to do some serious due diligence on that particular proposal.  I thought he did really well last night, and I'll be having a chat to the same next time I see him as I've not previously been a fan.
Clearly JF is concerned that we protect our red ball cricket and not make changes to the detriment of the Game and ECCC.
bottom line is that both JF and DB believe that the minor and a few other counties will be bought by the ECB when it comes to making a constitutional change and give them the 2/3rds majority they need to push the city based team game through.

loads of unanswered questions from ECCC to the ECB and there will be numerous sub-committees formed from Chairmen and CEO's to do the research.  JF feels that they see him as an agitator at present and is not confident he'll be asked to sit on any of the committees which appear to be hand picked by Graves it seems.

in all, a very well moderated and open/honest discussion.  One particular gentleman sat behind me made a very articulate and  passionate speech regarding the state of the game and was rightly given a warm round of applause.

I think the sad fact is that the ECB are doing this to bolster the coffers of the Test counties who they've encouraged to build bigger stadia etc.
what they should be doing is marketing the game correctly and then we wouldn't need to try and attract a bunch of football supporters to follow city based teams.

I'm a football supporter...and I've seen what happens when you attempt to attract new (or returning) support (West Ham!).  Be careful what you wish for!

[quincy]

Was also there.

My notes included

T20 Blast. Probably spread over season again. JF felt ECB obliged to support and promote it as so many clubs rely on it

Stratford.  Not available for City based T20 in August.  Essex aiming for Festival in May.

Minimum of 88 county players taken out of CC for at least 3 weeks on ECB contracts. Our players like idea but want more info.

JF - Loads of unanswered questions "As it stands it won't get my vote"
      Will look into giving members vote on final plan.

[bwildered]

Thanks gents  for the info
How much money is on the table to each county if majority of counties sign up to the city franchise ?
Is it to early to ask how players will be seconded to the city teams ?

[essexfan548]

Did they say how they will consult with the members who couldn't be there?

[huttoneagle]

I also attended. Fully agree with Blocky and Quincy's notes/comments.

From the information given by Derek and John, it was abundantly clear that the ECB have given very little thought to the impact on the counties, players and existing spectators. With the recent revelations of what happened at Durham, you would have though they would have looked at the consequences on all of the counties before trying to railroad this through.

As one gentleman reminded us, this has another "Stanford fiasco" written all over it!!!

Hopefully John and Derek will be co-opted onto the sub-committee's that are being formed and they can continue to ask the probing questions.

[IlfordEagle]

Thanks for supplying us non attendees with the relevant details of last night, very helpful & informative.

[Postman]

Yes,  thanks indeed for the summary.  If nothing else, a big show of disapproval from county chairmen might provoke Graves and his gang to share out the cash more fairly towards the non-Test ground counties.

[Stringbok]

Many thanks to those who posted updates.  Unfortunately I was unable to attend.

For me I would rather not have it. But if we have to then my 'line in the sand' would be no further erosion of the integrity of the Championship.

That means no reduction in championship matches and suspension of the CC for the duration of the city tournament.

Sadly the latter doesn't seem to be on the table so we could see teams arguing that they would have won the Championship if they hadn't lost so many players to the Southern Softies, Midland Muppets or Northern Numpties for three weeks.

[squarelegumpire]

Thanks for supplying us non attendees with the relevant details of last night, very helpful & informative.

Agree. Certainly seems as though the right questions are being asked as far as Essex is concerned, bot by the Committee and by the members.

Thanks again Blocky and co.

[Blocky]

Did they say how they will consult with the members who couldn't be there?

they didn't.  Mainly because they weren't asked. 

There was some comment about a vote being taken and paid for by the ECB.  JF smiled at that one.

I think if you feel you have points to make that weren't included on Tuesday you may want to write to the CEO.

I do believe there was talk of a further forum and consultation when more is known from the due diligence being performed.  I wouldn't expect that any time soon though.

[Blocky]

Thanks gents  for the info
How much money is on the table to each county if majority of counties sign up to the city franchise ?
Is it to early to ask how players will be seconded to the city teams ?

currently the number is £1.3mm per club. plus the Test grounds that will be used are looking at an extra £900k

I suggested to JF that this base figure was fine but we should also ask for £100k per player "Drafted".  This at least would give us the ability to get in some help and bolster the squad.

I wonder if the £2mm salary cap will be raised to allow for increased squads?

[Blocky]

Yes,  thanks indeed for the summary.  If nothing else, a big show of disapproval from county chairmen might provoke Graves and his gang to share out the cash more fairly towards the non-Test ground counties.

Unfortunately, JF thinks this is unlikely.  Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Essex, MCC..poss Somerset would object at present.

Northants, just gone limited and no longer a members club...everyone else is totally broke and needs the 1.3mm

once again, the foresight of our forebears in making sound investments and keeping reserves of funds  is giving us a chance.  according to all news reports, Yorkshire owe Graves £26mm, Hants owe Bransgrove £10mm......

[nat]

What's with all this 'mm'?! Come on keep up the standards.

[huttoneagle]

It's not clear to me (or any of the other attendees) where the counties are going to "magic up" these extra players from.

With the 8 team (cities) they are going to require a squad, lets assume it's 14 players.

8 x 14 = 112 players

Derek mentioned that there would be a maximum of 3 overseas players per city/team.

8 x 3 = 24 overseas players

112 - 24 = 88 home grown players

88 / 18 (existing counties) = 4.8 (round it up to 5) players per county. And as one gentleman pointed out the counties in Div 1, are likely to see more of their players disappear, unless a cap on the number players per county is introduced.

Counties will either increase there squads with 2nd XI players or try and find overseas players who are prepared to roll up for a 2/3 week contract!!! With the numbers we are talking about the potential for "very ordinary" overseas players is enormous.

I suppose the other alternative is to suspend all domestic 1st class cricket whilst this T20 bash is being played!!!

[nat]

...I suppose the other alternative is to suspend all domestic 1st class cricket whilst this T20 bash is being played!!!

Ain't gonna happen. The county programme will continue with 2XI/club players being used. Result = poorer standard of county cricket.