No foreign stars as Glamorgan feel the squeeze

Cash-strapped Glamorgan have admitted that they will not have any big-name foreign signings in 2007 as a result of their financial predicament.

"It's entirely down to money ... we won't have an overseas player in 2007, but will look at it again in 2008," Glamorgan chairman Paul Russell told BBC Sport at the end of summer which saw them finish second bottom of the Championship and relegated from the Pro40 Division One.

"It's been disappointing to say the least, in all tournaments," Russell admitted. "We have talented and able players, but they're yet to gel so they are a poor team, but I feel we can be a good one. There hasn't been a happy balance between youth and experience with the talented youngsters not getting the help they needed from the senior players - but the senior guys have been struggling for form."

The sense that things are heading towards a crisis was only fuelled by his final remark: "We will have a management meeting in mid-October when we will assess our season. Everyone will be under review ...myself, the coach, the chief executive."

Russell admitted the county has lost £1 million in the last seven years, and the ambitious redevelopment plans for Sophia Gardens, which should reap rewards in the long term, will cause more serious cash-flow problems in the immediate future as interest charges rise.

Towards the end of 2006 Robert Croft quit as captain, and his successor David Hemp tried to sound upbeat when he said the lack of an overseas star would allow homegrown youngsters to come through. "It was a hugely disappointing end to the season, but hard work is the only answer," he told the BCC, "from the most seasoned player to the most junior."

Glamorgan have a rich history of fielding some of the biggest stars in the game, from Javed Mianded to Viv Richards. But, to their credit, they have not gone down the path trodden by other strugglers and filled their side with Kolpak signings.