Essex emerge healthily from 2012

Essex can reflect on their financial performance in 2012 with relief after declaring a profit of £17,000, bucking the trend of the losses suffered by most counties.

The club are about to undertake a major redevelopment at Chelmsford but appear to be heading into the project on a stable financial footing.

Like every other county, the weather hit their balance sheet and treasurer Keith Brown estimated it cost them £100,000 in lost income. The reduced revenue led to an operating loss of £66,000 but a good performance from their investments saw the bottom line pushed into the black.

Chairman Nigel Hilliard was delighted with the results. "In a year when the Club budgeted for a small financial deficit and our Championship programme was disrupted by the loss of more than 1,000 overs of cricket, our commercial team are to be congratulated on producing a financial surplus.

"This season we need to build on that foundation with performances on the field that meet the expectations of our Members and supporters."