Canterbury Cricket is still on the lookout for the most suitable venue for its secondary venue for first-class matches

Lynn McConnell25-Sep-2002Canterbury Cricket is still on the lookout for the most suitable venue for its secondary venue for first-class matches.While Jade Stadium was still extremely important to Canterbury Cricket, and always would be, according to Canterbury Cricket Association chairman David Shackleton, a permanent secondary ground was necessary.That ground was not going to be the Village Green at QEII Park. While agreement has been reached with the Christchurch City Council over the provision of a permanent building at the Village Green, the Association was looking for another facility, including possibly somewhere at Hagley Park.”This will be given a great deal of focus over the next few months,” Shackleton said.While it had been disappointing not to reverse the trend of financial losses suffered by the Association over recent years, the fact that the meeting was being held at the new indoor facility and offices was a significant triumph for the Association and a landmark in its development.With all the issues that were facing the Association it had been fortunate to hold the loss to what it was at $54,231, he said.The Association was budgeting to breakeven next year but even if that was achieved it was still not good enough.Shackleton said the issue of finances of the Associations had been discussed after last weekend’s annual general meeting of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) and there had been a good deal of debate. NZC were concerned about the situation for the Associations and Shackleton said they would be holding a review once the World Cup had been completed next year.It was hoped that some of the share of income from the World Cup would be used to assist the Associations in stabilising their costs.Club delegate Peter Crowhen raised concerns over the Association’s cashflow situation and board member Steve Riddell said cashflow was a key issue for the board and the fact the new facility was up and running was one of the contributing factors to the cashflow, but a number of decisions made by the board had been with a view to the next four or five years.In the vote for two board positions resulting from Trevor Luke facing re-election by rotation and Anne Urlwin standing down, Luke was returned along with Mike Satterthwaite from Canterbury Country.Former New Zealand Cricket Council member Brian Adams was elected president after Brian Hastings completed his four year term of office.Riccarton Cricket Club delegate Tim Murdoch raised a constitutional point in general business when suggesting the constitution was at fault in not requiring the Association’s board selection panel to meet and interview potential board members before nominations were received.It was a weakness in the system of appointment and did not assist delegates to the annual meeting in making their selection.