Hong Kong scale back on CEO plans

The Hong Kong Cricket Association has dropped plans to hire a chief executive and downgraded the post to senior sports administrator after board members baulked at the cost.

"We are now looking for a senior sports administrator to head up cricket in Hong Kong," said HKCA chairman Darren Tucker after a board meeting. The decision was a personal blow for Tucker who had been attempting to borrow US$125,000 to fund the move.

Some board members found this excessive, particularly during the current global financial crisis, the report said. Tucker said the board decided at an "exciting" monthly meeting on Thursday to hire a sports administrator from within Hong Kong instead.

The position will not be readvertised and the new administrator's salary will be negotiated when applicants are interviewed next week, he added.

The deadline for applications closed on Friday, but Tucker refused to confirm whether any had been received.