FINANCE chiefs at Worcestershire CCC have confirmed £1million has been slashed from the club’s £5.2million debt in the last 12 months with ‘real strands of encouragement’ on offer – ReadySteadySell™ – Trusted Home Seller Advice
Audit chairman Fanos Hira told members at the AGM ‘the outlook is positive’ for the New Road outfit.
Efforts to tackle the debts come amid a backdrop of financial uncertainty in the county game which has seen Northamptonshire survive on council support and Durham relegated to because of their debts.
The overall debt has already been reduced by about £1million during 2016 and the first quarter of the current year according to Mr Hira.
Lower rates of interest had also been successfully secured on some of the club’s debts.
“We are making big inroads into that which is encouraging and it is a prudent and appropriate way to run our business.
“The immediate focus is very much on reducing loan obligations.
“I’d like to reassure you that the board is confident the steps taken in 2016 and the changes it anticipates it in 2017 will enable the club to not only reduce its debt but enable it to improve its utilisation of its excellent facilities but also properly invest in cricket for the future,” he added.
The respected auditor said membership fell in 2016 compared to 2015 but said Worcestershire CCC was not the only sporting club which struggled to attract members.
“The season starts soon and the vast bulk of membership is already in. It is encouraging to report membership levels are up quite sharply compared to what was reported for 2016. That is a strand of optimism,” he said.
“Yes, there is an underlying loss but the issues are being addressed and we would expect a significant improvement in 2017 onwards.”
New County CEO Tom Scott said: “Commercially I think we’ve been left behind by the rugby club (Worcester Warriors) and we need to start making comparisons to them.
“I can assure you every pound of debt the club has got is now being addressed and repaid. That makes me feel very good.
“If we do get money in the future from the new T20, I genuinely hope that money goes into cricket. That is my vision of that money, not to pay off debt.
“We’ve already got a debt plan where through normal trading, we will pay off that debt.
“We haven’t borrowed any money since I’ve been here and we don’t intend borrowing any more money.
“There won’t be anymore loans. The focus is on reducing the debt,” he added.
