Port Adelaide to remain in A Grade under a 3-year performance-based agreement

The South Australian Cricket Committee last night voted to accept the recommendation that the Port Adelaide Cricket Club remains in the A Grade cricket competition under a performance-based agreement.

The Club will be programmed in the A, B, C and D Grade senior competitions and will be set a number of key performance criteria which it will be required to meet over a three-year period.

The performance criteria, as suggested by the Port Adelaide Cricket Club, sees Port's A Grade team set a target of 3 wins or 25% of its matches in the 2003/04 season and 4 wins or 33% of its matches in the 2004/05 season. Providing Port achieves the aggregate number of wins for the first two years, it will then have to achieve 6 wins or 50% of its matches during the third year.

Grades B, C and D and junior grades have similar but reduced targets over the same period. Although they have set performance criteria, the junior grades will be judged primarily on an improved-performance basis and at all times the focus will remain on the development of junior cricketers.

If the aggregate performance criteria at the end of second or third year is not achieved then Port will not be programmed in the A Grade competition.

The South Australian Cricket Association's (SACA) chief executive Mike Deare said that the Association is extremely happy that an agreement has been reached with the Port Adelaide Cricket Club, ensuring the long history of the Club continues.

"We are very pleased that the recommendations, as suggested by the Port Adelaide Cricket Club, have been endorsed by the Cricket Committee," he said.

"There is a very long history of cricket at Port Adelaide and the SACA will continue to put resources into working with the Club to ensure they have a long and healthy life in South Australian cricket."

"Development of cricket in the Port Adelaide region is extremely important to the SACA and to cricket in the State, and we wish the Club every success in achieving their targets during the next few seasons."

The Cricket Committee comprises a representative from each of the 13 Grade Clubs, a representative from the Country Cricket Association, a representative from the South Australian Cricket Union, an umpire's representative and one SACA board member.