FORMER chairman John Elliott has been elected as the new president of Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

The 71-year-old was promoted to the position at the club’s annual general meeting and replaces Duncan Fearnley following two years in the role.

Elliott, chairman at New Road from 1998 to 2006, played for the County as wicketkeeper between 1959 and 1965 and was part of the Championship-winning side of 1964. He later served on the board of directors for 27 years and also spent six years as a vice-president.

Elliott says he is honoured to take on the role and is hoping to preside over the team’s immediate return to LV= County Championship Division One.

“It is a privilege and an honour for me and I am following in the footsteps of some great presidents,” he said. “I have been around a long time and I’ve seen many ups and downs over the years – great wins, great losses, promotion, relegation, good sides and poor sides. I’m a great believer that all sport goes in cycles and I believe it will be our turn again soon, hopefully this year.

“The lads who played last year were very young and inexperienced and I am sure the experience they gained in Division One will stand them in good stead.”

The meeting also saw the approval of the club’s accounts, which showed a profit after interest of £225,009 for the year ending September 30, 2012.

Chairman Martyn Price and Professor David Green were both re-elected as non-executive directors, while former players Tim Curtis and Neal Radford were elected to the board.