Surrey Chief Executive Resigns (06 Dec 1995)

Surrey are hit by resignation of chief executive

By Charles Randall

GLYN Woodman has resigned as Surrey`s chief executive with effect from the end of this month after three years at the Oval, saying his position had become "untenable".

His departure, a surprise to the cricket world yesterday, seems to have been prompted by exasperation after his attempts to weave strong management into the county club structure were unravelled at committee level.

Woodman, given a three-year contract in February 1993, made a few unpopular decisions at the head of a hard-nosed regime, winning admirers and making enemies during a term most notable for lack of success on the pitch and ambitious long-term planning off it.

Geoff Arnold was sacked as coach at the end of Woodman`s first season of restructuring and Grahame Clinton, a replacement, resigned after this summer.

There were occasional membership rumbles, and perhaps the chief executive`s problem was more to do with style than content.

Woodman said in a letter, announcing his decision: "I was brought in three years ago by [the then chairman] Derek Newton businesslike basis, while recognising that it was still a members` club.

"This was a difficult and not always popular task, not made easier by having to serve under three separate chairmen in three years. I worked well with all three, but their views on the club were different."

Paul Sheldon, who has been running the club`s 150th anniversary this year, is favourite to succeed Woodman.

Ian Caller is to stand down as Durham`s president after seven years. He will be succeeded by Bill Midgley, chief executive of the Newcastle Building Society.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)