Statement from the Lancashire Cricket League

[ClaretTony]

The League Executive have met and resolved the following:

1. The Lancashire League Cricket Championship will not be competed for in 2020.
2. We will look to introduce a reduced competition once restrictions are lifted.
3. The Worsley and Junior Cup Competitions will not be played in 2020
4. We envisage that play will not commence until the first weekend in July (3rd/4th/5th) but will monitor and review this on an ongoing basis.
5. Should play then be possible we will look to play 2 divisions at both 1st and 2nd levels with clubs playing each other once.
6. A third eleven competition will also be arranged, on a 2 Division basis.
7. A T20 Competition will be arranged in a format to be announced.
8. As there will be no formal League or cup competitions in 2020 the requirement in the rules that each Club must engage a professional [rule C1.1] will be relaxed so that if a club plays any match without a professional there will be no penalty.
9. League fees will be reduced to £100 and handbooks will be supplied free of charge for the 2020 season as production has been completed. We expect an announcement later this week from the LCF regarding affiliation fees and the LCF KO. The ECB are also expected to make a statement regarding possible funding.
10. We will liaise with the ball manufacturers regarding payment of the invoices.
11. Until restrictions are relaxed, no monthly league meetings will take place.

The intention of the League Executive is to provide all of our member Clubs with the opportunity to play as much cricket as possible during 2020.

However, when and if this can be achieved is a matter beyond our control at this moment in time. We remain positive and hopeful and will issue updates should conditions change.

[HuncoatClaret]

I guessing all the Pro contracts have been cancelled or is it not that simple?

[jrgbfc]

Surely it makes sense to just do away with pro's for a season?

[Gordaleman]

Unless the people who still have their heads in the sand about this virus, start to follow social distancing, then this virus will kill a lot more people than necessary and football and cricket might not resume for many, many months.

Queuing together outside supermarkets, wandering aimlessly round town centres and rushing off to the hills and coast. No wonder this is spreading faster than it need do.

Of course, when lots of people die, it will be everybody else's fault, certainly not theirs.

[HuncoatClaret]

Item 8 says that, but I just wondered about the legal side of cancelling a contract. I'd imagine most clubs have houses and cars fixed up for when their pro arrives.

[ClaretTony]

I guessing all the Pro contracts have been cancelled or is it not that simple?

I wouldn't have thought it was that simple and that will put a lot of these clubs under enormous pressure financially if they have to pay their pros for the season when there is no money coming in.

[dsr]

I would have thought pro contracts became de facto void, because the pro can't insist on getting paid when he is unable to get here to play.

[Quickenthetempo]

I can't see any overseas players being allowed over as most countries will be on lockdown for a good few months.

I don't think player contracts are particularly tight though with how many players break them.

[Longsidelenny]

Let teams play without any players that get paid oh how silly of me the would definitely be no cricket keep safe and up the colne

[tim_noone]

Unless the people who still have their heads in the sand about this virus, start to follow social distancing, then this virus will kill a lot more people than necessary and football and cricket might not resume for many, many months.

Queuing together outside supermarkets, wandering aimlessly round town centres and rushing off to the hills and coast. No wonder this is spreading faster than it need do.

Of course, when lots of people die, it will be everybody else's fault, certainly not theirs.

The Irony.

[Bordeauxclaret]

With the amount of pros who break their contracts it would be a cruel irony if clubs have to pay them for this.

[ClaretTony]

With the amount of pros who break their contracts it would be a cruel irony if clubs have to pay them for this.

The contracts are hardly worth the paper they are written on now. Players arrive late, leave early, disappear for a while during the season.

[jrgbfc]

As others have pointed out, I can't imagine the contracts are particularly binding, with the way professionals come and go at the drop of a hat.

[Cubanclaret]

Can some just cancel 2020. Period. Thanks

[HuncoatClaret]

[quote=Cubanclaret post
Can some just cancel 2020. Period. Thanks

Not sure that the menstrual cycle has anything to do with cricket!

[tybfc]

This was issued by Lancashire CCC earlier today:

Dear Member,

Firstly, I would like to thank you for your support during this incredibly difficult time. Above all, I hope you are safe and well in the face of this unprecedented situation. This fast-developing global situation affects us all; our friends, family, jobs and financial security. Lancashire Cricket is no different.

I know we are not alone in going through a tough time at the moment and many counties, and indeed businesses, are feeling the strain. This is the most serious and widespread threat to the country since the Second World War. But while things may seem dark at the moment, we hope that a rescheduling of the cricket season, albeit tentative at this stage, provides us with light at the end of the tunnel and something positive for us to focus on in the coming weeks and months.

As of Monday 23 March, the Club will be operating with a skeleton staff. The Ticket Office and the on-site Hilton Garden Inn hotel restaurant and bar will be closed. The Club’s Shop at Emirates Old Trafford is also closed, although online orders can be placed at lancashirecricket.co.uk/store and we will continue to fulfil and deliver as we currently operate. Caffè Nero will remain open for takeaways only. The majority of the Club’s staff will be working from home as we comply with the Government’s social distancing policy. For any Membership queries please email membership@lancashirecricket.co.uk and we will endeavour to answer them as best we can with the information that we have.

As you can imagine, with the immediate loss of revenue, the Club is experiencing a period of financial shock as many businesses are and we are managing our short-term expenditure very closely and working with all of our staff, particularly those on the front line to support them through this difficult time. The people of this Club are what makes Lancashire Cricket so special and we’re doing all we can to protect our permanent members of staff.

Lancashire Cricket acknowledges and supports the ECB’s decision to postpone the start to the season in light of the Government’s social distancing and mass gatherings guidance. It is not safe for players to travel and play even behind closed doors at this stage as the disease begins to reach its peak.

The ECB have stated that no professional cricket will be played until the end of May, although this could quite easily be extended. With it being such a fluid and fast-moving situation, we will have to wait and see how the next few weeks and months pan out. There are just so many unknowns for all of us. With that in mind, then I believe it’s fair to assume that we are, best case, looking at a truncated three-month season.

The ECB has begun modelling a range of options to start the season in June, July or August – with an immediate focus on options for domestic and international cricket. With several counties facing financial distress over the next few months, it is likely that international and white ball cricket is expected to be prioritised over a full (14 match) Specsavers County Championship season. If this proves to be the case, it will not be a political or cricket-based decision but a necessary financially based one to ensure we all live to fight another day and protect the game we all love. No truncated season model will please everyone as decisions and compromises will need to be made to get cricket played again and I ask for your continued patience and understanding whilst the ECB prepare their revised plan for the season.

As soon as the ECB have finalised their modelling for the 2020 domestic and international schedule, we will communicate this to the Club’s Members. A Membership at a county cricket club is so much more than a Season Ticket at a football or rugby Club and that is what makes our sport so unique. We are a Members’ Club and that is very special. Whilst it is of course frustrating for everyone at the moment, and especially considering how much we all look forward to the start to the season, particularly at this time of the year, we will work closely with the ECB and the key stakeholders in the game to determine the best approach to deliver the best possible season of cricket we can at Emirates Old Trafford later this summer.

We will evaluate the impact of Friday’s statement from the ECB on our Members and supporters, players, commercial partners and other stakeholders in the coming days. We will also be looking to provide as much assistance to the recreational game across the North West, as those cricket clubs form the bedrock of cricket in Lancashire, as they too face many challenges in the months ahead.

While the future path of COVID-19 remains unclear, we hope some semblance of clarity is welcome by all Members ahead of a truncated 2020 season.

Please continue to follow the government’s advice on hand washing, social distancing and look after yourselves and your loved ones during this period of uncertainty. The health and wellbeing of our staff, Members, friends and families and the wider community is of utmost priority for us and we hope to see you back at Emirates Old Trafford later this summer. So please, our collective priority at this time is for all of us to stay safe.

This Club has survived wars and recessions, and we have resilience running through our core. We will get through this. We are all one big red rose family and on behalf of the Club, we all appreciate your continued support.