David Morgan to head county review

David Morgan, the former chairman of ICC and the ECB, has been appointed to head a review of county cricket's business plan at a time when many of the 18 first-class counties are in severe financial difficulties.

The review, which has been commissioned by the ECB's management board, will present its findings towards the end of the year with Gordon Hollins, the ECB's managing director of county business, assisting Morgan. The aim is to try and come up with models that can help counties become financially secure in the long term.

"ECB has taken significant steps to improve our county game in recent years including the introduction of two divisions, the advent of the performance related fee payment system and a £15 million investment programme to support the installation of world-class floodlights and drainage systems at grounds," Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said.

"County cricket continues to attract significant support from spectators, broadcasters and sponsors alike and we want to ensure that we have a robust, long-term strategy in place for safeguarding our domestic game and continuing to produce a constant flow of talent from playground to the international arena.

"We need to examine all aspects of our business operations and consult widely with all our key stakeholders across the game as well as the wider leisure and entertainment industry."