Fears of chaos as MCC vote on tickets (11 July 1999)

11 July 1999

Fears of chaos as MCC vote on tickets

Paul Newman

MCC will be plunged into turmoil if a vote of no confidence in the committee is forced through at a special meeting on Wednesday.

Tony Lewis, MCC president, and the committee will have to resign if the members, angered at being charged for Lord's World Cup tickets without consultation, win the day. That would leave MCC having to replace a committee which includes the likes of Lord Cowdrey, Ted Dexter and Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie.

The SGM was instigated by a group of members, led by Michael Geliot, who were furious that the committee went back on a promise, made in 1987, that members would never have to pay to watch cricket at Lord's. MCC have now admitted they were wrong not to consult members and are proposing a new rule which would guarantee they will not have to pay for tickets again without their prior agreement.

That will probably be enough to earn the committee a majority of the postal votes - those members in attendance will add their votes on Wednesday - and bring the matter to an end. If not, then the committee and Lewis will stand down, causing unprecedented disruption.

The big worry for the committee is that there will be a backlash from members still angry about the way the whole issue of the introduction of women members was handled and may use the World Cup tickets affair as an excuse to register their displeasure.

The committee have taken the step of issuing members with a list of their recent achievements to try to convince them that they are moving in the right direction. In the address, they point out that "Lord's retains its traditions, heritage and warmth yet the club have successfully embraced a number of striking and innovative new buildings" and that they have "been able to meet commercial challenges without compromise to the traditions of MCC".

There is a warning, however, that the committee "cannot be responsible for the entire management of the property, funds and affairs of the club unless we enjoy the confidence and authority which flows from the support of the membership. In recent months, this has increasingly been brought into question by some members".

The rebel group were not only unhappy that they had to pay for tickets but that many members were unable to sit in their usual Lord's pavilion seats.

The committee responded that they had debated whether to use their reserves to pay for World Cup tickets - the tournament was run by the England and Wales Cricket Board - or ask for a surcharge on this year's subscriptions in order that tickets could be issued free of charge.

In the end "the committee decided against both options, believing that it would be prudent and logical to ensure that the cost of tickets fell upon those who wished to be present at matches. We believe that this was the correct decision, but the committee also accept that members should have been given the opportunity to confirm it".

It is that lack of consultation which is at the crux of the problem. And one that will keep the committee on tenterhooks until Wednesday.

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