Derbyshire remain in the black despite relegation

Derbyshire have once again proved that the smaller counties can achieve a solid financial footing by recording a profit for the seventh time in eight seasons despite relegation from Division One of the County Championship.

The club only made £3,395 in 2013 but that came with the background of an additional playing budget of £200,000 in a failed attempt to retain their First Division status.

That left the chief executive Simon Storey presenting the season as a financial success. "We took the decision ahead of the 2013 season to increase our cricket budget by upwards of £200k as a step towards our ultimate ambition for sustainable success on the field," he said. "The challenge to service that increase with a combination of incremental income and cost control was significant."

Ticketing and membership income soared by 87.6 per cent in the first year of the Proud to be Derbyshire campaign which capitalised on the opportunities provided by promotion to Division One. There was given good news at Chesterfield, with the best-attended festival since Derbyshire returned to Queen's Park eight years ago.