Somerset surplus brings optimism after £4m pavilion spend

Somerset announced a pre-tax surplus of £330,389 for the year ending September 30, 2015, as they set their sights on repaying the outlay on a new £3.9m pavilion.

The investment was a chief factor in the county winning international status ahead of the 2019 World Cup as well as cementing its position as one of the most successful T20 venues in the country.

A rise in profitability was a relief for Somerset, long regarded as one of the most financially-stable of the first-class counties, as they showed no ill effects from the disruption caused by the construction of the new pavilion, which was completed earlier this month, and the associated reduction in seating capacity and facilities during the season.

Catering income, in fact, remained a bedrock of the club's accounts with profits amounting to £964,000, a marginal drop on the previous year.

Cricket income rose 10% to £1,284,000 despite a disappointing season in which Somerset only escaped relegation in the final match of the season and failed to challenge in both limited-overs cup competitions. Income from the ECB rose by a similar amount to £2,051,000.

Treasurer Malcolm Derry said: "The year was expected to provide significant financial challenges due to the major off-field upheavals associated with the new pavilion.

"These strong financial results are of particular importance as the club remains committed to both operating within its budget and repaying the debt taken to finance the new Somerset Pavilion to schedule whilst not detracting from our substantial ongoing investment in our core business of cricket."

These payments will take a considerable time with net debts standing at £3.85m.

Somerset claim, though, to have retained a strong commitment to investing in their playing squad. When playing costs are expressed as a percentage of income received, they claim to rank second among the 18 first-class counties.