NEW Road cricket committee chairman Martin Horton has hit out at the central contracts system for England players which severely restricted Graeme Hick's appearances for Worcestershire this season.

"They have been absolute chaos," said Horton as the inquest got underway today on the County's disappointing campaign, which saw them relegated from the National League Division One and fail to get promoted from Division Two of the County Championship.

He added: "To bring the contracts in at the same time as they brought in promotion and relegation was absolutely ridiculous, but you have got to blame some of the counties for voting in favour of that.

"They got persuaded by the ECB that we shall produce a good England team, but I think we have got carried away by beating the West Indies. We have beaten the worst side on the international calendar.

"I agree with what Brian Close says, virtually all the batsmen have had poor seasons this year.

"Mike Atherton got runs in the last Test match but otherwise he's had a poor season and Graeme Hick has had his worst season for years.

"Batters like to play and should be playing, but I think it's a different case for Darren Gough and Andy Caddick. I'm all in favour of them being withdrawn.

"Graeme Hick was desperate for a big innings to give him confidence for the forthcoming England tour, but he wasn't given the chance."

Horton said that the effect of the controversial England central contracts was one of the main complaints by New Road members this year along with the haphazard county fixture list.

"People just didn't know whether it was a National League match starting on a Tuesday or a County Championship game beginning on a Saturday and so on.

"I think that was one of the major complaints by members apart from the ECB contracts taking the best players out.

"I would like to see all National League matches played on a Sunday apart from televised games. The television has got to dictate a little bit because we get a lot of financial backing from them.

"Personally, I'd also like to see Championship being held on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"I know very often you wouldn't get Saturday play, but to be fair, certainly in Worcester, we don't get big gates on a Saturday.

"You don't get sponsors on a Saturday, so you have got to get them at the end of the working week.

"There has been a idea mooted that perhaps Championship matches should start on a Monday which might suit some people but it wouldn't suit those who take the hospitality boxes and marquee.

"They normally prefer a Thursday or Friday because it's towards the end of their working week."

The ECB contracts and fixture list are just two of a number of issues which will be debated in the New Road committee room now that the County's season of under-achievement has finally drawn to a close.

Horton said: "Let's be fair it's been a very disappointing season really. When we have had the best bowler in the world in Glenn McGrath, and he's performed well for us, we should have done better than we have.

"To be fair a lot of the senior batsmen haven't really come good. Even Graeme Hick has had a poor season by his standards.

"We are looking to strengthen the side but, of course, we are always restricted by financial commitments as well and with the ECB contracts who knows if we will lose members for next year.

"But we are working on next season. We are having meetings about the ground, fitness, coaching, the academy and about all aspects of our cricket.

"We, the committee, get frustrated as much as the ordinary members.

"I was abused after our National League match against Leicestershire by some supporters and I said we pay our money the same as you do and we are just as frustrated by the team's efforts. It's a fact of life, but we do the best we can."