Lancashire expect profit from 2013

Lancashire have been warned to expect losses of up to £3million for 2011 before the club's finances begin to recover with the completion of rebuilding work and the benefit of hosting an Ashes Test in 2013.

Last week the club announced losses of £2.1million for 2010 and David Hodgkiss, the club treasurer, said there will be one more tough set of results before a healthy turnaround is expected following Old Trafford's success of securing international cricket until at least 2016.

"In 2013 the picture changes significantly," Hodgkiss told the Manchester Evening News. "We forecast the club will be heavily into profit with a turnover in excess of £20m. And we will remain in profit until at least 2016, at which stage we will be a very profitable business."

It has been a tough few years for the club which missed out on the 2009 Ashes and was then caught up in a costly legal battle over their redevelopment which they finally won earlier this year.

The ongoing work at Old Trafford meant all Lancashire's home County Championship matches were played at outgrounds in 2011 with Aigburth, Blackpool and Southport staging games. Lancashire's four-day relocation to Liverpool is cited as one of the key reasons behind their Championship success as the pitches were far more conducive to results than has often been the case at Old Trafford.

Championship cricket will make a partial return to Old Trafford in 2012 with four matches due to be held at the county headquarters with the other four remaining at outgrounds due to the impact of the building work that will continue throughout the season. New media and player facilitates are being constructed while work will also start on renovating the pavilion.

However, all Lancashire's home CB40 and Friends Life t20 matches will be staged at Old Trafford while the ground will host two England matches; a one-day international against Australia and a Twenty20 against South Africa.