Gloucestershire recently voted in their new chairman, Rex Body, TheShireBlog asks whether Rex is the man of the future...
The boardroom has spoken, Rex Body is the new chairman of Gloucestershire. With the on-field improvements and off-field proposals, will he be the man to lead the Shire into a new dawn?
Possibly, if the current standing of the club was sufficient to sail into a new era. But a heavy financial loss and difficulties in developing the ground suggest that more than window dressing is required.
Rex is a true Gloucestershire man I'm sure. 11 years of service, deputy chairman and executive board member in charge of ground development. A fine chap, worthy of such a role. But worthiness and suitability are two entirely different issues and is where this blog raises an eyebrow.
I'm all for continuity with traditional sports clubs. Leicester Tigers RFC are the prime example of keeping people who know the club in the club and continuing to produce success - things didn't quite work for them when the South African Heyneke Meyer was appointed head coach.
The Tigers have been very shrewd animals and have experienced clubmen and businessmen in place to run the club. Chairman Peter Tom was chief executive of Aggregate Industries and made 130 appearances for Leicester in the 1960's.
Now a similar man in Gloucestershire may simply not exist, let alone be available, but it would seem appointing a lapdog to the previous regime is not going to provide the change most members would accept is required to move forward.
Many would argue fresh impetus is what Gloucestershire require. Most question its running as a business and a cricket club and the promotion of an old-stager along the front bench may be seen as an Iain Duncan-Smith when a David Cameron is called upon.
Rex Body has worked on the plans for the development of Nevil Road for a long time and is the ideal person to push through those plans. Great, if those plans are the best for the club’s future. But this appointment is an acceptance that these plans are the best, no negotiation; an insider on the job isn't going to reassess his hard work in a hurry.
Will Rex’s priority be to sort the ground out so everyone can breathe a momentary sigh of relief? Granted the ground issue is one of vital importance for the club but is a one-dimensional effort going to reap the best results?
Bath rugby club have toiled away for years trying to address their ground problems. Eventually, they realised they were failing to see the wood for the trees and hired Nick Blofeld - a man who revolutionised Epsom racecourse - to provide the fresh impetus the project requires.
What else of the new chairman? Is he to use his new-found powers to make an impact in the marketing or merchandising departments? Does a man who distinctly served Rolls Royce for many years posses such ideas? Or is that not his job? A more cynical author may suggest the chairman is only there to drink with the shareholders; I’m sure Peter Tom CBE would consider otherwise.
What is the new chairman going to do? What did the outgoing chairman do? If you look hard enough there are facial similarities. One wonders whether the similarities stretch to pound-note blindedness over the Sky television issue.
What the outgoing chairman did not do was stick around for any great length of time. How long will the age and wisdom of Rex Body last at the helm? Long enough to oversee a county championship victory? Long enough to shake off the reliance on ECB handouts?
A cliché perhaps, but only time will tell is the fairest conclusion. But is Rex Body the forward-thinking initiator Tom Richardson requested to work alongside him? A pause for thought indeed.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Kirby in Lions Squad
Gloucestershire's Steve Kirby has been included in the England Lions squad that will tour the United Arab Emirates next month.
Kirby's fantastic 2009 season has earned him the call up for the tour, which includes a fixture against the senior England team.
The 32-year-old has been rewarded for a fine effort in county cricket - 64 county championship wickets at 22.18 - and now has the opportunity to impress at the next level. He still harbours ambitions to represent his country at senior level and will relish further chances to impress the selectors - particularly with the tour party to Bangladesh being announced immediately after the Lions' fixtures.
The one-day tour takes place throughout February and begins with a Twenty20 match against the UAE in Sharjah, followed by two Twenty20 games against Pakistan A at the same venue before a third in Abu Dhabi, also the scene for a T20 against the senior England side. The party then move to Dubai for three 50-over matches against Pakistan A to complete the tour.
The squad includes Ian Bell who is being given an opportunity to stake a claim for a return to the England one-day setup.
Full squad: AW Gale (captain, Yorkshire), IR Bell (Warwickshire), MA Carberry (Hampshire), MJ Lumb (Hampshire), JWA Taylor (Leicestershire), C Kieswetter (wkt, Somerset), SM Davies (wkt, Surrey), PD Trego (Somerset), JC Tredwell (Kent), AU Rashid (Yorkshire), SI Mahmood (Lancashire), CR Woakes (Warwickshire), ST Finn (Middlesex), SP Kirby (Gloucestershire), DJ Wainwright (Yorkshire).
Kirby's fantastic 2009 season has earned him the call up for the tour, which includes a fixture against the senior England team.
The 32-year-old has been rewarded for a fine effort in county cricket - 64 county championship wickets at 22.18 - and now has the opportunity to impress at the next level. He still harbours ambitions to represent his country at senior level and will relish further chances to impress the selectors - particularly with the tour party to Bangladesh being announced immediately after the Lions' fixtures.
The one-day tour takes place throughout February and begins with a Twenty20 match against the UAE in Sharjah, followed by two Twenty20 games against Pakistan A at the same venue before a third in Abu Dhabi, also the scene for a T20 against the senior England side. The party then move to Dubai for three 50-over matches against Pakistan A to complete the tour.
The squad includes Ian Bell who is being given an opportunity to stake a claim for a return to the England one-day setup.
Full squad: AW Gale (captain, Yorkshire), IR Bell (Warwickshire), MA Carberry (Hampshire), MJ Lumb (Hampshire), JWA Taylor (Leicestershire), C Kieswetter (wkt, Somerset), SM Davies (wkt, Surrey), PD Trego (Somerset), JC Tredwell (Kent), AU Rashid (Yorkshire), SI Mahmood (Lancashire), CR Woakes (Warwickshire), ST Finn (Middlesex), SP Kirby (Gloucestershire), DJ Wainwright (Yorkshire).
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Glos declare record Loss
Gloucestershire have announced a deficit of £167,000 after tax for the year ending 30 September 2009 - an unconfirmed record loss.
The news comes as a result of a turbulent cricket season where gate receipts fell and squad costs grew and represents another year of deficit for the club.
The cricket season proved a turbulent one in the midst of a recession and Glos lost out with gate receipts 23% lower than 2008. This despite a Friends Provident quarter-final match and the marketing department's gladiator-themed efforts.
Naturally the recession would have impacted upon ticket sales but the club's disastrous Twenty20 campaign would certainly have turned many a punter away - reflected in very poor crowds for the games against Northamptonshire and Glamorgan, the latter being played on the supposedly popular Sunday slot.
Another interesting budget shortfall was £48,000 on membership. The club declared sales were higher than expected when the news of John Bracewell's return was made permanent so how can that spurt disastrously tail off into lower-than-expected membership sales?
One can forgive excess player expenditure because the money was wisely spent: tying Franklin down for the whole season and signing promising youngsters Gemaal Hussain and Rob Woodman. But another season's loss has seen the playing staff cut to minimal levels - the depth that everyone craves for simply isn't available because of finance and Jon Batty will almost certainly be the only close season acquisition.
With a more spectator friendly fixture list for 2010, the club is hoping to return to surplus, something which Honoury Treasurer Roger Cooke described as "imperative". 2010 will also see the club itself profit from a benefit year.
Chairman John Light has declared the ground redevelopment will not be affected, saying : "Every avenue is being vigorously explored" to fund the £10million scheme. Light suggested residential housing is being considered, the first time that idea has been presented but perhaps a necessary exercise after the initial plans for student accommodation had to be scaled down.
Light also enforced how reliant counties are on ECB handouts by saying the return of cricket to terrestrial television "would be a disaster". Gloucestershire will certainly be hoping the Sky money remains as they seek to turn round the club's financial situation but the future survival of county cricket has to lie away from handouts.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Members consulted over Constitution changes
Gloucestershire CCC is to propose several changes in the club's constitution for the first time since 2004.
Members will be asked to vote on the proposals ahead of January's AGM.
More to follow...
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Light to stand down
John Light is to stand down as chairman of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club after three years in charge.
Light said he wanted to "enjoy continued good health" and will not be seeking re-election at the AGM in January.
He told www.gloscricket.co.uk: "The role of a county chairman increasingly carries greater demands. The nature of the role is changing and we need someone who can help generate the finance needed to realise our excellent plans for the ground."
Light, who will turn 70 next year, underwent major heart and prostate surgery in 2007 and is standing down due to medical advice.
He has overseen a transformation of the club, particularly in the past season, with the appointment of John Bracewell and the commitment to develop young players. He feels he will be leaving the Shire in good health: "I believe firmly that we now have the structure in place to take Gloucestershire forward in the future, both on and off the field."
The outgoing chairman stated that he was a cricket person, but someone with a background in business was necessary to continue to drive the club forward alongside chief-executive, Tom Richardson. News that may concern many who feel it is precisely a cricketing person that is required in the top job in order to ground the Shire as a cricket club.
Light will continue in his role as chair of the Cotswold Cricket Association and still be involved with the Gloucestershire Cricket Board.
Light said he wanted to "enjoy continued good health" and will not be seeking re-election at the AGM in January.
He told www.gloscricket.co.uk: "The role of a county chairman increasingly carries greater demands. The nature of the role is changing and we need someone who can help generate the finance needed to realise our excellent plans for the ground."
Light, who will turn 70 next year, underwent major heart and prostate surgery in 2007 and is standing down due to medical advice.
He has overseen a transformation of the club, particularly in the past season, with the appointment of John Bracewell and the commitment to develop young players. He feels he will be leaving the Shire in good health: "I believe firmly that we now have the structure in place to take Gloucestershire forward in the future, both on and off the field."
The outgoing chairman stated that he was a cricket person, but someone with a background in business was necessary to continue to drive the club forward alongside chief-executive, Tom Richardson. News that may concern many who feel it is precisely a cricketing person that is required in the top job in order to ground the Shire as a cricket club.
Light will continue in his role as chair of the Cotswold Cricket Association and still be involved with the Gloucestershire Cricket Board.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Light against free-to-air Cricket
Gloucestershire chairman, John Light, has spoken out against the proposed change to protected sporting events which would see home Ashes series be returned to free-to-air television.
His comments came as the England and Wales Cricket Board welcomed a call by the government to open up a period of consultation over the proposed move.
Speaking to www.gloscricket.co.uk, Light voiced his displeasure at the possibility of the funding structure provided by Sky's contract with the ECB being "sabotaged": "The money from television contracts has ensured a clear and positive pathway from the village green to the County Club."
He spoke of the "fabric" of cricket in Gloucestershire being in danger were funding to be cut, but surely Mr. Light is taking a narrow-minded perspective? Does the chairman not want to see cricket coverage opened up to the masses, so more will be tempted along to Nevil Road? And more will be motivated to get down their local clubs? Thereby strengthening cricket in the county.
This blog believes that any opposition to cricket being taken off subscription channels is merely interested in numbers and figures: they envisage a large hole in the finances that will cause havoc to future projects. Granted, county cricket would take a knock in the pocket from reduced handouts, but surely everyone wants counties to stand on their own two feet? Is not enticing more in through the gates the best way to achieve this? And is putting the show on for all to see not the best way to go about doing so?
Mr. Light cites the financial aid given to grassroots cricket in the county as the case for Sky to continue their monopoly on the game, but providing better facilities is a wasted exercise if no-one is there to use them. Mr. Light suggests it is this that gets people playing cricket: "surely participants are better than couch potatoes?" Indeed sir they are, however, not many ten-year-olds asses the quality of their club's pavilion before deciding to take up the game. Participants are stimulated through inspiration, and only by giving people this inspiration by allowing them the opportunity to witness the game at it's best, will they wish to go out and recreate it.
Granted funding will be reduced. Granted a pavilion or two may not be built. But there are other sources of funding. And perhaps more funding could be available if the counties sacrificed their handouts? Just a thought.
The negative impact that the terrestrial turn off has caused needs to be reversed. Cricket needs to be beamed into everyone's home. Our sport needs mass coverage to gain mass popularity; to gain mass participation. Funding shortage or not, Mr. Light et al. must not be blinded by the impact of finance in the short-term. They must see that the greater good of the sport will be served by a whole nation being able to watch it and a whole nation being able to revere in the wonders of cricket.
His comments came as the England and Wales Cricket Board welcomed a call by the government to open up a period of consultation over the proposed move.
Speaking to www.gloscricket.co.uk, Light voiced his displeasure at the possibility of the funding structure provided by Sky's contract with the ECB being "sabotaged": "The money from television contracts has ensured a clear and positive pathway from the village green to the County Club."
He spoke of the "fabric" of cricket in Gloucestershire being in danger were funding to be cut, but surely Mr. Light is taking a narrow-minded perspective? Does the chairman not want to see cricket coverage opened up to the masses, so more will be tempted along to Nevil Road? And more will be motivated to get down their local clubs? Thereby strengthening cricket in the county.
This blog believes that any opposition to cricket being taken off subscription channels is merely interested in numbers and figures: they envisage a large hole in the finances that will cause havoc to future projects. Granted, county cricket would take a knock in the pocket from reduced handouts, but surely everyone wants counties to stand on their own two feet? Is not enticing more in through the gates the best way to achieve this? And is putting the show on for all to see not the best way to go about doing so?
Mr. Light cites the financial aid given to grassroots cricket in the county as the case for Sky to continue their monopoly on the game, but providing better facilities is a wasted exercise if no-one is there to use them. Mr. Light suggests it is this that gets people playing cricket: "surely participants are better than couch potatoes?" Indeed sir they are, however, not many ten-year-olds asses the quality of their club's pavilion before deciding to take up the game. Participants are stimulated through inspiration, and only by giving people this inspiration by allowing them the opportunity to witness the game at it's best, will they wish to go out and recreate it.
Granted funding will be reduced. Granted a pavilion or two may not be built. But there are other sources of funding. And perhaps more funding could be available if the counties sacrificed their handouts? Just a thought.
The negative impact that the terrestrial turn off has caused needs to be reversed. Cricket needs to be beamed into everyone's home. Our sport needs mass coverage to gain mass popularity; to gain mass participation. Funding shortage or not, Mr. Light et al. must not be blinded by the impact of finance in the short-term. They must see that the greater good of the sport will be served by a whole nation being able to watch it and a whole nation being able to revere in the wonders of cricket.
2010 Fixtures Released
The fixture list for the 2010 season has been released, and reveals some key changes to the cricketing calender.
Gloucestershire will begin their 2010 season with a County Championship match against Northamptonshire on Thursday 15th April at Nevil Road and the new ECB 40 League will be played out across the whole season with a break for the new Friends Provident Twenty20 competition, which begins on Friday 4th June.
A key change to the County Championship matches is the shift to midweek cricket: many of the games are Monday or Tuesday starts. This was the wish of many clubs who cited Saturday's as a non-cricket watching day due to the numerical strength of club cricket. Although a curious insertion of a Saturday evening fixture - T20 v Hampshire at Bristol - will be an interesting experiment.
The Saturday fixture will be part of the new Friends Provident T20 that will be played out over a much larger period - from the opening fixture at Sophia Gardens on Friday 4th June until Sunday 18th July when Surrey are the visitors to Nevil Road; respite is found in two County Championship matches that break-up the barren six-week period of the shortest format.
The fixtures show potential for the Gloucester festival to be renewed - with two Twenty20 matches highlighted as "TBC"; a return to Gloucester is subject to a sponsorship deal being arranged. This blog sincerely hopes a deal can be arranged to secure cricket back to the heart of the county.
The Shire will visit far fewer outgrounds next season: Arundel for a championship match and Uxbridge for a T20 are the only temporary away venues scheduled. This blog is most pleased that Lord's is back on the agenda, although disappointed at consecutive trips to the capital for back-to-back championship matches.
The Cheltenham festival is set for a slightly reduced format; two championship matches are flanked by two 40-over games from Thursday 29th July until Sunday 8th August. The Thursday start is very curious; one would have thought beginning on a Friday would have kickstarted the festival well, and is bound to be a more attractive day for commercial sales and supporters to take a day off work. This becomes all the more strange as Tuesday 3rd August is a blank day - the whole schedule could therefore be moved along a day to provide a Friday start.
The season will finish a week earlier than last year in order to accommodate the T20 champions league - a shame that the ECB have bowed to India's insistence once more, but allows for the final of the ECB 40 League to provide a grand finale to the season.
The fixture list appears nicely balanced; the ECB 40 League has been given an opportunity to develop across the course of the season and should provide a good competition, although this blog advocates for a quarter-final stage also. The longer format, and a Lord's final - under floodlights for the first time, is rightly back at the pinnacle of one-day cricket.
Key Fixtures
OPENING MATCH: Thursday 15 April v Northamptonshire, Bristol, LVCC
FIRST ONE-DAY MATCH: Sunday 25 April v Derbyshire, Bristol, 40L
POTENTIAL GLOUCESTER FESTIVAL: Friday 11th June & Sunday 13th June, T20
LOCAL DERBYS: Friday 18 June v Somerset, Taunton, T20
Friday 16 July v Somerset, Bristol, T20
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL: Thursday 29th July - Sunday 8th August
FINAL MATCH: Monday 13th September v Surrey, Bristol, LVCC
Gloucestershire will begin their 2010 season with a County Championship match against Northamptonshire on Thursday 15th April at Nevil Road and the new ECB 40 League will be played out across the whole season with a break for the new Friends Provident Twenty20 competition, which begins on Friday 4th June.
A key change to the County Championship matches is the shift to midweek cricket: many of the games are Monday or Tuesday starts. This was the wish of many clubs who cited Saturday's as a non-cricket watching day due to the numerical strength of club cricket. Although a curious insertion of a Saturday evening fixture - T20 v Hampshire at Bristol - will be an interesting experiment.
The Saturday fixture will be part of the new Friends Provident T20 that will be played out over a much larger period - from the opening fixture at Sophia Gardens on Friday 4th June until Sunday 18th July when Surrey are the visitors to Nevil Road; respite is found in two County Championship matches that break-up the barren six-week period of the shortest format.
The fixtures show potential for the Gloucester festival to be renewed - with two Twenty20 matches highlighted as "TBC"; a return to Gloucester is subject to a sponsorship deal being arranged. This blog sincerely hopes a deal can be arranged to secure cricket back to the heart of the county.
The Shire will visit far fewer outgrounds next season: Arundel for a championship match and Uxbridge for a T20 are the only temporary away venues scheduled. This blog is most pleased that Lord's is back on the agenda, although disappointed at consecutive trips to the capital for back-to-back championship matches.
The Cheltenham festival is set for a slightly reduced format; two championship matches are flanked by two 40-over games from Thursday 29th July until Sunday 8th August. The Thursday start is very curious; one would have thought beginning on a Friday would have kickstarted the festival well, and is bound to be a more attractive day for commercial sales and supporters to take a day off work. This becomes all the more strange as Tuesday 3rd August is a blank day - the whole schedule could therefore be moved along a day to provide a Friday start.
The season will finish a week earlier than last year in order to accommodate the T20 champions league - a shame that the ECB have bowed to India's insistence once more, but allows for the final of the ECB 40 League to provide a grand finale to the season.
The fixture list appears nicely balanced; the ECB 40 League has been given an opportunity to develop across the course of the season and should provide a good competition, although this blog advocates for a quarter-final stage also. The longer format, and a Lord's final - under floodlights for the first time, is rightly back at the pinnacle of one-day cricket.
Key Fixtures
OPENING MATCH: Thursday 15 April v Northamptonshire, Bristol, LVCC
FIRST ONE-DAY MATCH: Sunday 25 April v Derbyshire, Bristol, 40L
POTENTIAL GLOUCESTER FESTIVAL: Friday 11th June & Sunday 13th June, T20
LOCAL DERBYS: Friday 18 June v Somerset, Taunton, T20
Friday 16 July v Somerset, Bristol, T20
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL: Thursday 29th July - Sunday 8th August
FINAL MATCH: Monday 13th September v Surrey, Bristol, LVCC
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