Caffyn Resigns At Sussex (8 Mar 1997)

8 March 1997

Caffyn resigns at Sussex

By Richard Bright

SUSSEX have been thrown into further turmoil with the resignation of chairman Alan Caffyn yesterday and a pledge by Tony Pigott, the county`s former England pace bowler, to maintain his campaign to oust the entire committee.

Sussex have appointed long-serving committee member Ken Hopkins in succession to Caffyn, 63, whose seven-year reign came to an end after he pinned much of the blame for a mass exodus of players from Hove on former county captain Alan Wells.

Pigott has forced a special general meeting on April 8, when there will be a vote of no confidence in the committee. He said: "I can confirm I would like to become chairman. The future of Sussex is at stake and new blood and new ideas are urgently needed.

"I welcome Mr Caffyn`s resignation but what faces the members now is more of the same or a chance to take the club forward. I feel the whole committee`s position is now untenable. There`s no way back for them and by appointing Ken Hopkins as chairman they`ve played into my hands."

Pigott, 38, who served Sussex for 18 years, said he felt Caffyn`s position became untenable when committee member Richard Barrow quit on Tuesday with a furious blast at his colleagues.

He added: "Sussex`s big problem is their management style. It`s inward looking, lacking direction and communication and lacking effective man-management skills. I would like to come in and restructure the club, with everything based on doing what is best for Sussex."

Dickie Bird, England`s most famous umpire, has reluctantly backed Yorkshire`s proposal to end more than a century of cricket at Headingley.

Today 10,000 Yorkshire members will be balloted at the annual meeting in Leeds on a move to a #45 million purpose-built stadium at Durkar near Wakefield.

Bird played for Yorkshire in the 1950s before embarking on a 30- year umpiring career which ends this year. He said: "I have some very happy memories of Headingley as a player and as a Test umpire, but if the new ground comes off it`s in an ideal position."

Australian Test all-rounder Brendon Julian will be Surrey`s overseas player this summer for the second successive season.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)