Constitutional Changes

[jimmy]

Pity this proposal couldn't have been raised during the season when members could easily talk to representatives of the club during matches, ah , I think I've just worked something out.......

[Daren Mootoo]

Change is definitely required, but I am not sure this is the best solution. Do we know of any alternative models that have been successful?

[pablo]

I'd be interested in knowing why some think the ECB is behind this. If they are I'm definitely in the no camp !

[silasgreenback]

I'd be interested in knowing why some think the ECB is behind this. If they are I'm definitely in the no camp !

At Sussex the ECB funded exactly the same constitutional changes e.g the reduction in board size and the merger of first class and recreational cricket. Many see it as a pre-precursor to a watering down of smaller counties power, they potentially now become cricket centres responsible for all cricket in an area, rather then a first class county. That is why it's interesting that counties the size of Sussex and Essex have been asked to do this, and also the Durham deal may need some scrutiny as well as the rescue package has a 'community' element to it.
At Sussex we have hired a Director of Cricket, who hardly works with the first team and spends most of his time talking to clubs. The boards of recreational cricket and first class Cricket have been merged and reduced in number, and now the Sussex board is far more focused on recreational cricket and I think results in the first team reflect this. The whole thing has become a massive distraction to how the first team is run. Our CEO resigned recently and if you read the new job description there is hardly a mention of first class Cricket, is his resignation linked to this? You also have a situation where some club sides in Sussex are in open revolt and talking about breakaway leagues due to interference from Hove, and I have read plenty of stuff recently about the CEO being involved in how the structure of the club Cricket is played.....Is this really the job of a county cricket club CEO? There are too many competing interests. I think Essex members need to ask themselves, what would these changes achieve, that cannot be achieved in the current structure? I have asked this at Sussex many times, and am waiting for a sensible answer.

[Andy]

Yet, ironically, Sussex were the model of member activism whilst ECCC members lie down and think of Doug Insole.

[Can the Can]

Thanks to SilasGreenback for that post. I am very much leaning to vote against the proposed changes but would be interested to hear views and opinions from those who are in favour.

[Blocky]

interesting.  Subsequent to mr Greenback's post, I have now withdrawn my vote....

I shall attend the meeting though, I'm being told there may well be an appearance by Graves.....

[alji]

I wonder, if this is at the behest of the ECB, is there a connection to their review of the funding model, referred to in the Durham thread? County cricket is in a poor position at the moment, being financially dependent on the ECB funding (which is largely raised by England tests, ODIs and T20) to break even, while failing to develop enough players of acceptable standard for 18 counties. Our increasing reliance on players who learned their cricket overseas but are not counted as overseas players (5 now) being one example. Add the falling numbers of people playing club cricket, fewer clubs and fewer teams within many clubs and the general low level of public interest in the sport, and perhaps the ECB should be looking for radical ideas to revive the best sport there is.

[nat]

I wonder, if this is at the behest of the ECB, is there a connection to their review of the funding model, referred to in the Durham thread? County cricket is in a poor position at the moment, being financially dependent on the ECB funding (which is largely raised by England tests, ODIs and T20) to break even, while failing to develop enough players of acceptable standard for 18 counties. Our increasing reliance on players who learned their cricket overseas but are not counted as overseas players (5 now) being one example. Add the falling numbers of people playing club cricket, fewer clubs and fewer teams within many clubs and the general low level of public interest in the sport, and perhaps the ECB should be looking for radical ideas to revive the best sport there is.

...and those radical ideas being ...?

[pablo]

The counties have always been dependent on central funding in exchange for producing England cricketers and forming centres of excellence i.e. cricket schools, coaching and outreach work with clubs and schools. in fact with the success of 20;20 that dependency should be less than ever but the ECB's insistence on increasing the number of test venues have caused the problems and the decline in interest is the result of the ECB's short termism in selling out to Sky. It is not true that other offers were not on the table- they just didn't pay as much.Unfortunately for the ECB the most financially sound counties are the smaller ones ( Northants exepted) i.e. us,Somerset,Sussex and, believe it or not Derby who haven't produced an England cricketer since Cork. So in short most of the ills of the game in the UK are probably attributable to the ECB who in any event distribute less than a quarter of their income to the counties who seem to have produced a very effective and successful England team with - currently- few players of overseas origin, except Ballance, who we may be better off without anyway.

[alji]

Read my post Nat. I said they should be looking for radical ideas, not that I had any!

[huttoneagle]

I shall attend the meeting though, I'm being told there may well be an appearance by Graves.....

Wouldn't have though he would venture into the county at this particular moment in time. Not the flavour of month after we delayed his T20 ambitions!!!

[Andy]

The counties have always been dependent on central funding in exchange for producing England cricketers and forming centres of excellence i.e. cricket schools, coaching and outreach work with clubs and schools. in fact with the success of 20;20 that dependency should be less than ever but the ECB's insistence on increasing the number of test venues have caused the problems and the decline in interest is the result of the ECB's short termism in selling out to Sky. It is not true that other offers were not on the table- they just didn't pay as much.Unfortunately for the ECB the most financially sound counties are the smaller ones ( Northants exepted) i.e. us,Somerset,Sussex and, believe it or not Derby who haven't produced an England cricketer since Cork. So in short most of the ills of the game in the UK are probably attributable to the ECB who in any event distribute less than a quarter of their income to the counties who seem to have produced a very effective and successful England team with - currently- few players of overseas origin, except Ballance, who we may be better off without anyway.

Excellent analysis Pablo.

[essexfan548]

Make sure you remember to post your vote and have your say.

[bwildered]

Passed at SGM , 93% in favour ( 1, 646 received ) .