MAJOR changes are afoot in how cricket in Suffolk is run in the future.An extraordinary general meeting is taking place later this month at which it is proposed to amend the constitution of Suffolk County Cricket Association.

Nick Garnham

MAJOR changes are afoot in how cricket in Suffolk is run in the future.

An extraordinary general meeting is taking place later this month at which it is proposed to amend the constitution of Suffolk County Cricket Association.

The county's members will be asked to vote on the county's constitution with a view to defining and separating the roles of Suffolk County Cricket Club and Suffolk Cricket Board at the EGM at the Swallow Belstead Brook Hotel, Ipswich on Wednesday, April 22, starting at 7pm.

Martin Taylor, Suffolk's cricket development manager, said: “The funding and organisation of cricket in recent years has evolved rapidly at both national and local levels. Funding for grass roots cricket has increased substantially, placing much greater demands on the volunteers who administer cricket in Suffolk.

“The proposed new structure within SCCA will see clearer areas of responsibility and focus between Suffolk Cricket Board, who will govern and support the full spectrum of recreational cricket including all its members clubs and associations, and Suffolk County Cricket Club, who will manage representative cricket at all levels.

“The changes will also see a number of current tiers of governance removed so that the management board of SCB can be truly representative of all parts of the cricket family within Suffolk.”

Norman Atkins, the current Suffolk CCA chairman, will be stepping down from chairing the SCB Management Board, though he will be continuing his role as chairman of Suffolk County Cricket Club.

He has played a key part in the overall progress made in Suffolk cricket in recent years.

Nominations are currently being sought for the positions of chairman, secretary and treasurer of the Suffolk Cricket Board.

Toby Pound, honorary secretary of Suffolk CCA, said of the proposed changes: “Our current structure has worked well since SCCA was formed in 1970.

“It is important now to recognise the need to respond to the challenges and opportunities we are facing and to ensure that we organise ourselves in a way that best reflects the overall needs of the Suffolk Cricket community.

“The new structure must be well supported so that everybody involved in cricket within the county can work together effectively to achieve our objectives.”

Full details of the proposed changes can be found on the new Suffolk County Cricket Board website: www.suffolkcricketboard.co.uk