Chief executive Mark Arthur has revealed that the Yorkshire hierarchy are determined to drive the club forward in the coming years – with particular help from league clubs and businesses within the county.
Arthur, appointed at Headingley in early May, says the White Rose outfit must reduce a debt which stands north of £22million. And yesterday he outlined the strategy to increase interest in Yorkshire CCC.
He said: “We cannot add to the level of debt that we’ve got. In order to drive this club and the business forward, we have to engage with all elements of Yorkshire society.”
As a result, Arthur has written to all league clubs supported by the Yorkshire Cricket Board in a bid to “try and have a closer relationship with them than has perhaps been the case”.
Arthur is offering to take himself, two Yorkshire players, a fellow county administrator and potentially a member of the media to clubs interested in hosting a panel to talk cricket. This could coincide with a winter awards evening or dinner.
Yorkshire have also revealed their pricing plan for next summer’s Headingley internationals, which could see adults attending the fourth day of the England v Sri Lanka Test (Monday, June 23) for as little as £15 if purchased before Christmas.
This is a scheme aimed largely at weekend club cricketers. International ticket sales start from Monday.
Yorkshire are also introducing a season ticket for seven Twenty20 home matches in 2014, the majority of which will be played on Fridays. A season ticket will cost £70, compared to £145 if all tickets were purchased individually.
As part of this, the club have also renamed the often rowdy West Stand. The newly-named White Rose stand will be split into three sections. There will be a fancy dress section for over-18s only, an adults only section and a family zone known as the 1863 Enclosure.
The North Stand has also been renamed the Community Stand for groups from clubs and schools.
Yorkshire are also introducing a scheme which will aid small to medium-sized local businesses interested in strengthening their community links with schools or clubs.
Each business would pay a set fee to the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, who would then in turn put on coaching sessions.
Meanwhile, Arthur insisted he was “very confident” of holding on to second XI coach Paul Farbrace amid interest from Sri Lanka as they search for a new head coach.
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