ECB Invest £18million into County Cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced an £18million investment into county cricket after a board meeting at Lord’s.

A loan of up to £1 million will be available to each of the 19 first-class counties, subject to approval of detailed business plans by the ECB finance committee and the ECB Board.

Loan facilities for 13 counties – Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Lancashire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire – were confirmed at today’s meeting.

The new loans are overseen by the ECB’s new Professional Game department and have been approved as a result of meeting key strategic targets.  The loans are part of the ECB’s increased investment into domestic cricket and are in addition to the annual fee payments that all 18 first-class counties receive every year.

ECB Chairman Giles Clarke said: “With all sports facing increased competition for resources in a tougher economic climate, it is imperative that our first-class county clubs are financially robust, boast modern, spectator-friendly facilities and can continue to act as centres of sporting excellence within their local communities.

“Today’s announcement is part of a wider programme of transformation for the county game which will include the introduction of a new domestic playing schedule from 2014. The increased investment will help the first-class counties plan for the future with greater confidence and implement a programme of change which will help make our domestic game even more attractive to spectators, broadcasters and sponsors alike.”

The ECB have also allocated £420,000 to re-instate community club grounds that were flooded during the second wettest year on record.