Morgan denies reports of ECB funding crisis

David Morgan: 'I don't think it is a serious threat' © Getty Images

David Morgan, the chairman of the ECB, has dismissed reports over the weekend that Sport England has issued an ultimatum to the ECB to reform or face a withdrawal of millions of pounds in grants.

The reports said that Roger Draper, Sport England's chief executive, met with Morgan and Tim Lamb, the ECB's chief executive, earlier this month, and that the ECB were told to get its house in order, and to do so by the end of March. The articles also claimed that Draper told Morgan that radical ideas, such as those put forward by the Cricket Reform Group, needed to be taken on board. But Morgan's recollection of the meeting is quite different.

"[We] had a very amicable meeting with Patrick Carter, chairman of Sport England, and Draper, and we talked about the things we are doing and about ECB as an organisation with reform high on its agenda," Morgan said. "They concluded that come the early part of next year we would be even more fit for purpose than we are currently. Talk of a March ultimatum is news to me."

And Morgan dismissed the idea that the ECB faces a funding withdrawal. "I don't think it is a serious threat," he said. "because I genuinely believe Sport England are happy with the direction in which we are moving."