Financial deficit but Auckland still moving ahead

Having planned a budget deficit for the last summer due to the lack of international cricket, the Auckland Cricket Association managed to come with a lighter deficit than it anticipated.

The deficit was $19,045, a $42,131 turnaround from the $23,086 surplus of the previous year, according to the annual report. Increased returns from club affiliation fees, up by $15,036, a $27,383 increase in donations and interest and a $24,087 increase in merchandising and sundry income helped to offset a decline of $52,957 in hospitality.

In spite of the deficit, a higher amount of money, $267,106, an increase of $114,855, was distributed to clubs.

Among developments of note during the past year, Auckland chairman Rex Smith reported that Auckland have initiated discussions with secondary schools in both the Auckland and North Harbour regions with a view to curbing the high drop-out rate of cricketers that occurs at school-leaving age.

"This is obviously a complex issue with no quick fix solution, but we are pleased with the positive reaction to the initial proposals that have been discussed with club and school representatives. While discussions remain ongoing, we are hopeful that new initiatives will be put in place within the next 12 months or so.

"We believe this matter must be addressed if we are to retain and improve our player recruitment and retention numbers as we look to the future, and in the fact of the many competing interests available to youth in the modern era," Smith said.

In his final report, the outgoing chief executive Lindsay Crocker said one benefit from the discussions had been the agreement with the schools that school leavers will be allowed to play for their clubs in the fourth term of their final year.

Crocker said: "This is a major development and will allow school-leavers to commence with their clubs at the beginning of the season, rather than trying to break into established club teams halfway through a season. The Schools' cricket associations agree this system is the best way for the schools' investment in cricket being sustained into adulthood."

It is anticipated the system will be in place for the 2004-05 season.

Smith reported the association had an independent core business review undertaken of their operation as a check on its efficiencies and effectiveness. It had found that Auckland was working well but needed some restructuring and one of the outcomes had been the reduction of the coaching department from four to three. This had resulted in the loss of former Auckland Aces coach Tony Sail who had been working on the Mount Albert Grammar programme.

One of the highlights for the association was the resurfacing of the main oval at Eden Park and this should provide a vastly improved playing arena next summer.

"In particular the benefit of the new surface should be obvious in the event of wet weather and, unlike previous seasons, there should be no difficulty or delays due to a wet outfield. The Outer Oval block, together with the practice pitches, have again been re-laid this year following an unsatisfactory result from last year's renovations, and part of the block is to be utilised with portable pitches for the first time," he said.

On the playing field Auckland might have won the State Championship for the second successive year, and been the top qualifier, but beaten finalist, of the State Shield, but captain Brooke Walker is still not satisfied.

In his captain's report in the annual report he noted: "It was clearly explained to the boys at the start of my captaincy with Auckland that one of my goals was to shift the New Zealand domestic cricket power base back to Auckland, and away from the places where people may have assumed it resided previously. The team were 100% behind this goal and I would like to think we are part-way toward achieving this through our performances to date."

Walker described the introduction of Mark O'Donnell as team coach as "something special" for the team. The players' strike had made it difficult for O'Donnell to establish a routine with the side at the start of the season. However, Walker said: "The professional way in which the Auckland Cricket Association dealt with the whole issue [strike] must also be acknowledged - this was something greatly appreciated by the Aces' players."