Durham chairman resigns in row over finances

The chairman of Durham County Cricket Club, Bill Midgley, has resigned with immediate effect, following a row with a section of the club membership.

Midgley, who took up the post nearly four years ago, had overseen a steady improvement in the club's fortunes, and last month looked on in pride as the Riverside Ground at Chester-le-Street staged its maiden Test match, against Zimbabwe. But he was considered by some members to have "sold the soul" of the club.

"Quite simply cricket does not survive on membership alone," said Midgley in a statement. "The role of chairman, of what is a company and not a club, is to look after the interest of all stake-holders - that is you the members, our lenders and our sponsors. That is the reality of the situation, whether members like it or not.

"In the circumstances, therefore, I am no longer prepared to spend 30 to 40 hours per week representing members' interests and trying to ensure the long-term security of Durham CCC. I shall resign, with immediate effect, as chairman and director of the club which I have little doubt will satisfy many of the members who have offered no views on how to repay the Bank the £1.8m we owe to them, whilst securing our own long term security."