Cumbes’ fear for counties

LANCASHIRE today announced record annual losses of £546,000 — and chief executive Jim Cumbes has spelled out a “frightening” landscape in which Test match counties battle to survive.

Cumbes fears for the future of some of Lancashire’s fellow counties, forced to compete in the England and Wales Cricket Board’s bidding policy to host Test match cricket but bereft of extra revenue streams to offset the seven–figure expense.

Lancashire have diversified into staging pop concerts, while the Test match counties have lobbied for a revamped Twenty20 competition, borrowing from if not replicating the city or franchise model of the Indian Premier League.

“Some grounds more than others cannot afford what is being asked,” said Cumbes.

“Trent Bridge’s staging agreement (with ECB to be guaranteed hosting Tests) finishes next year — they’re frightened to death, because they have no other source of income but cricket yet have a ground they’ve got to maintain.”

Cumbes envisages a situation where some counties will come under possibly insurmountable financial pressure if the bidding process persists and no suitably-lucrative extra competition can be defined.

Lancashire’s own financial uncertainties are clearly significant. But having committed to a £32million re–development of a famous ground, Cumbes does not yet appear to be too troubled.

“This is the second loss I can recall in 22 years,” he said.

“The problem is not many of us can afford the bidding (for Tests) any more, at the levels it’s getting to.

“Without pop concerts last year, we’d have been in a whole stickier mess than we are in now.

“We’ve gone into debt to the tune of £15million with this (redevelopment). But the business plan says we can pay that back.”

Meanwhile, Lancashire have signed New Zealand all-rounder Nathan McCullum as their overseas player for this summer's Friends Provident t20. He will make his debut against Nottinghamshire next Wednesday.