...the NCU delegates voted for change and adopted all of the important proposals put forward by Andy Clement and his sub committee. The two-pronged attack on the status quo was aimed at restructuring junior and minor cricket to move with the times, and to streamline the premier league with an 8-team structure in 2012. The clubs had been canvassed with the proposals several weeks ago so there was ample time for club committees to discuss their strategy and marshal their voting power, so the likelihood of anyone changing their mind was remote.
The revision of junior cricket was passed unanimously which says much for the Task Force who took the issues to the clubs and were obviously rewarded for their diligence. The reduction of the senior league was much more contentious.
Andy Clement and his development committee have been banging the 8-team format for several years and their cause was helped by some passionate support from Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom who made the journey north to attend the meeting. A 60% vote was required and amazingly the proposal was carried by one vote.
The 8-team league is supported by Cricket Ireland, as it will help promote better cricket for the better players at the highest level, and bridge the gap between representative cricket and club cricket. It isn’t the complete answer and obviously it restricts the opportunities for clubs working to reach the top division, but there is no doubt that the current gap at the top and the bottom of the premier league is huge and a smaller number of clubs will make it more competitive as both ends of the table. It will also reduce the competitive programme by four games, but that should allow clubs more flexibility to rearrange postponed games and perhaps organize club tours.
All the key positions were filled without the need for a vote, although two negative factors were an operational loss on the balance sheet, and a number of unfilled positions on the committees. The union’s finances suffered from the absence of a senior cup sponsor this year, and moving into the special 125th celebration next year this must be a priority for the sponsorship committee.
The NCU AGM has been criticised in the past for being the death-knell of progressive proposals, but the 2010 delegates can take great credit for their vision and enterprise, as it will surely help local cricket move with the times.
Well done everyone.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
