6:00am Friday 22nd January 2010
By Michael Reeves
WORCESTERSHIRE have announced a six-figure deficit for 2009 but have promised not to use the money saved from Kabir Ali’s departure to recoup losses.
The New Road club released its annual accounts today - showing a pre-tax loss of £118,439.
The news comes just 24 hours after the club released Kabir from the final season of his New Road contract.
With the former England bowler, who is set to complete his move to Hampshire today, one of the top earners at the club, chief executive Mark Newton says Kabir’s salary will remain available for director of cricket Steve Rhodes.
Newton said: “The money will remain in the cricket budget and is available to invest when the time is right.”
The six-figure deficit is the second loss announced by the club in three years and is on the back of last year’s £359,856profit.
“These disappointing figures are a result of a number of issues we faced last year, particularly, the poor fixture schedule and the team’s performance,” Newton added.
“While the recession will continue to have an impact commercially, we have addressed the fixture schedule which will be a great deal more spectator-friendly this year.
“We invested heavily in the team last year but unfortunately performances failed to meet expectations.
“A number of senior players have since moved on and our cricket budget has been reduced by around £300,000 this year.”
The County say that total income remained static but only because of a 19 per cent increase in the distribution from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
Membership subscription revenue held up to 2008 levels but income from both commercial and catering fell by 31 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.
Gate receipts did show a 24 per cent increase as a result of the England Lions v Aus-tralia match being staged at New Road, while expenditure rose by 17 per cent.
In the County’s annual report, the club are aiming for successive six-figure surpluses in 2010, 2011 and in 2012.
With Kabir leaving New Road, the 29-year-old bowler said there was no bad blood between him and Rho-des as he departs the club for an undisclosed figure.
“I have enjoyed my 11 years at Worcestershire,” he said. “I just felt that I needed a fresh challenge.”
The County had initially insisted on a £60,000 compensation fee to release Kabir, but they have reached an agreement with Hampshire.
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