Yorkshire to team up with big business in quest for success

It is perhaps a sign of the times that the CricInfo county champions, Yorkshire, have announced that they are to meet with some of the county's prominent businessmen to talk about ways in which new commercial capital can be raised. All counties, however successful, are being forced to find more ways of increasing revenue.

Unlike some other counties, Yorkshire have stressed that they are not intending restructuring to become a plc, but they are willing to discuss a significant overhaul of their existing structure if that would be advantageous in moving away from reliance on income from membership.

Some 40 members of the county's business community have been invited to attend. Yorkshire will be represented by the club president, Robin Smith, along with chief executive Chris Hassell, chairman Keith Moss and commercial director Tony Panaro.

Smith is quoted as saying: "It is not about moving towards a plc. That would be going too far. It is part of looking at the club's future structure and how we can raise the kind of capital Yorkshire will need.

"There is no secrecy about the meeting and I wanted it at this time so we can report to the annual meeting on March 23 about any ideas that have arisen.

"A move towards fully incorporating the club as a limited company so that the balance sheet would include outside capital is a possibility, but we just don't know what will transpire at this stage.

"We need to have an open debate about where Yorkshire cricket needs to go in the next five or 10 years and this is all part of that process."

Moss was also quick to scotch any ideas of a move towards a plc. "That is not on the agenda at all. It is about marrying the needs of a members' club with commercial requirements.

"We have revolutionised the Headingley ground in the past 18 months and I wouldn't be doing my job as chairman if I did not explore every possibility of raising interest in the club among the business community."