Major pulls out of Yorkshire opening after famous sons complain

Former Prime Minister John Major has pulled out of opening the new West Stand at Headingley after the choice of the now Surrey President had come under fire from some of the county's most notable old boys.

Geoffrey Boycott, Ray Illingworth and Fred Trueman had all threatened to stay away when the stand, part of Headingley's £10 million re-development, is opened on 15th August, the day before the Fourth npower Test against Australia begins.

The three Yorkshire and England greats were of the opinion that a national or leading county figure should have been chosen, rather than Major.

However, Major has averted what was a potentially embarrassing situation for Yorkshire by withdrawing, saying in a statement: "The opening of the West Stand and Sir Leonard Hutton Gates should be a very happy occasion and I do not wish to see it spoiled in any way. Nor do I wish - albeit unwittingly - to be the cause of controversy.

"I know the Yorkshire committee wish honourably to stand by their invitation to me: nevertheless, I believe it would be best - for all concerned - for someone else to be invited to perform the ceremony." T he Yorkshire Post had quoted Boycott as saying: "We're not going (to the opening) because it is insulting. If it had been the Queen or our club president or a current Prime Minister then that would have been different."

Fred Trueman, the Yorkshire and England pace bowler who was the first man to take 300 Test wickets, echoed Boycott's views: "John Major is a personal friend of mine. But would Surrey ask the Yorkshire president to open a stand at The Oval?"

The new stand will have a capacity of 8,500 people, and precedes the replacement of the North and East Stands, both of which will be hauled down immediately after the Test and rebuilt during the winter.