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Typical Lurgan hypocrites. All their talk of youth development as they fork out big money on hired guns (Crasborne, Holmes) for the first XI then they think it appropriate to advise other clubs how to "develop" their 1st XI!

On a separate note I see C.I have announced today the signing of Waller from Lisburn. They must intend to buy back the league. What is the point of having one C.I home produced player in the team? what does it achieve?

Banning payments at A.G.M is pointless as it will be done under the table or by generous sponsors.

And to the Muckamore players who fought to get them promoted when they find themselves dropped I imagine the message will be tough luck - thats sport!

Thanks, Robin, but I am reliably informed that we did not pay Kiran More; he even paid for his own flights. In any case, he moved to Coleraine within three months of arriving at Ballymena.

Hiler, most groundsmen do not get paid!!..the first thing clubs should do is spend some money on equipment which will allow them to produce better grounds.

Andy,
Burnsy and the Ballymena Sixes go hand-in-hand in the Hiles memoirs! As does the late Jim "Wasim" Barry's threat to shoot us for spending the prize money one year. We told the Chairman we were knocked out in the 1st round but someone published a photo and blew our cover!
Great debate on paid players-time to wheel out Snowy and get him to champion the cause. What a pity you guys didn't come to the AGM. It would have been a joy to hear the cricket argument versus the business argument. I suspect all the Premier League clubs are in debt because of paid players and if not it is because someone outside the club is paying them. That said, there's nothing wrong with paying someone to coach if you can afford it. But shouldn't you pay the groundsman first?

Ben Crangle

Think you meant the Youth Development Officer at North Down and not the sub editor in your posting.

Hope the weather in Brisbane is nice...

I'm sure that "Phil" will join me in congratulating Ivan for his honest posting. Here we have an up-front statement of intent and the reasoning behind it. For so many years we have had the usual platitudes about "coaching", developing young guys, etc. when it was an open secret of what the real reason for hiring pros was all about. As someone who was around Ballymena at the time of Abi Satham and Kiran More the earlier postings bring back a lot of memories. The guy who went on to play for India and indeed become a leading administrator in Indian cricket could only get his place on the 1sts was when JRW took Hazel on holiday. Then again More didn't work for Sun Life - but that opens another whole series of memories of the 6-a-sides and maybe we'll just leave it there. P.S. Clarence - I meet Alan Burns regularly in a Belfast lunch venue and the 6s are never mentioned! He was telling me that the two of you have re-established contact after some years! Happy days alright.

Re paid players.
I love the hypocrisy shown by the sub-editor when talking about paid players. This coming from the man who has played his club off against other clubs to get more money!!

Re Robin & Neil

By the way Robin I well remember Abi and Kiran as I was one of their trainees.

I guess i'm about the same vintage as you guys but I remember going to an NCU AGM where the white- haired representative of a top village club who has now become a leading administrator made a very passionate and yet reasoned argument to ban professional cricketers. I think he ran it every year even though he must have realised that it was futile. His argument was "Lamba - no one can get him out! Merchant - no one can score off him!"

He was, and is, a really decent individual with an unsurpassed competitive streak but always a friendly word.

So this debate has been running for a very long time. But I consider that for the first time in 30 years there is a new context.

As in rugby (though less so as rugby is more popular than cricket) there is only financial resource for 2-3 pro / semi-pro teams in Ireland. This also depends on Warren Deutrom's negotiations with ICC.

Does anyone agree that the Knights / Lightning / Warriors teams are the appropriate platform where the talented locals and irish passport arrivals should aspire to and receive remuneration?

That way the clubs can return to true amateur status and rather than arguing for evermore about this issue just play as amateurs and come together to support our local inter-pro team.

My model is that the Knights should draw all the talent and pay per play. That way talented Ireland U-19 players from clubs would not be advised to move to develop. We've had two such players at Muckamore in the last 8 years.

Re Neil Hunter

Didn't Lurgan pay any Irish passporter they could get their hands on last year to try and stay in the Premier League?

Robin, some very valid points but aren't your own club paying 4 or 5 players this year whether for coaching, or playing in PL or in the case of last year pay them to play Junior One?

Robin, you have got it spot on in all what you say. I could see paying a lot of players if you got £50K for winning the league, but this is not the case.

I think it's time a proposal to the NCU or by the NCU was made to limit a club to one paid player. If we keep going the way we are, will we end up in the same position as the clubs in the the North West. Look at all the Limavady players who were paid for years and as soon as the club can't pay, they disappear to other clubs. So much for loyalty to Limavady, it's appalling.

For all the teams that bring over the Irish passport brigade and pay them, what happens if they progress and play for Ireland. As time goes on Ireland will look to have semi pro or even pro teams so the clubs will not have access to their so called own players, thus their investment is a waste. It's will be a bit like the Ulster rugby players, they never play for their clubs.

I have heard for years clubs boasting about their youth structures and all the upcoming talent we have as a result of all the coaching that is going on. As I write, no club in the NCU can say they are full of youth talent. If they do, why are these young players not playing on your firsts. If they were playing in your 1sts this would negate the need to bring in 3 - 6 paid players.

The most worrying thing from the NCU perspective is that our youth teams seem to be light years behind Leinster. Is this because of the paid players taking their places thus leaving these youngsters playing for their 2nd XI's instead of learning their trade in the 1sts?

Ivan, what you are doing to promote cricket at Muckamore is to be congratulated, but I have one question. If you bring in 3 or 4 players, what do you say to those players who got you promoted last year who will not get a look in in 2014?

Michael T, whilst I understand you weren't even born, but if you ask any of the old Ballymena brigade they will tell you about Abi Satham and Keiron More who played for Ballymena in 1985, K More the Indian test keeper who couldn't displace the great Jimmy Boyce from behind the stumps until a mystery injury at Comber midway through a game. Needless to say 3 catches and 3 stumpings later JB fielded the other games, so it could be said Ballymena introduced the pro and mate idea.

On a serious note it would be great if we could sort something out about player payments, I think a lot of people agree that clubs cannot afford it nor does it help the clubs development, in fact in a lot of cases all it's doing is putting clubs in a false position and in financial difficulty. In all honesty it beggars belief when you hear some of the guys who clubs are paying in the NCU and North West area.

Same old record but what about improving our wickets, drainage, changing room and social areas, rant of the week finished.

Although I'm not writing this on my club's behalf, I can say that Ballymena CC pays only one player.

We have not paid more than one player per season while we have been in the Premier League (or, indeed, any league).

A quick look at our 1st XI averages for the past five years might explain why.

Dear all

RE - coach education

Just to let you know of a few spaces still available on the 1 day Cricket Coach Education course below.

This is a good opportunity for coaches looking to get on the first step of the coaching ladder and for your club / school to progress coaching knowledge.

Welcome To Coaching
Saturday - 14th Dec
0930-1630 at University of Ulster, Jordanstown

You must be 14 or over to attend this course.
Cost = £20

If interested - please contact Stephen Moreton on stephen.moreton@cricketireland.ie

All sounds very exciting Ivan, and Im sure its well deserved with people like yourself and Andy hard at work throughout the last few years on alot of the unseen/untold efforts which make the difference.

I would agree that payments being made throughout the league have led to a semi professional notion, but in reality I do not think the standard has improved at all in the last 5-10 years despite the increase in money being invested in players to play.

Personally I feel it is much wiser to bring in one or two people (not 5 or 6 players) with a development/coaching mindset to ensure the future of the club with a long term strategic approach.

Would much rather see clubs fielding younger players at crucial stages of their development to aid in retaining their enthusiasm and commitment to the game. Examples have shown that there are many benefits to this.

Hope yous stick to your guns Ivan for the coming season and keep up the great work being done.

On the back of Ivan's email is it now agreed that to sustain your position within the premier league investment in players above and beyond the overseas professional is required ? Do any PL clubs dare put their hand up a say they only have one paid player on their first eleven ?