Lancashire cricket board to face vote of 'no confidence'

The club has scheduled the Special General Meeting for 9.30am on Sunday, June 7, and under the rules, if fewer than 40 members attend in person, the vote cannot go ahead.

But with 114 members signing the requisition for the motion, organisers believe they will comfortably meet the threshold. Those unable to attend at Emirates Old Trafford can vote online in advance.

Lancashire have a T20 game against Glamorgan at Blackpool later that day.

At last week’s agm, members approved a rule change increasing the number of former players on the board from two to four - a move widely seen as a pushback against recent governance tensions.

Longstanding member and Lancs Members’ Group founder Alan Higham said trust between the board and supporters had “been broken”.

“We’ve had five sgms in less than a year,” he said. “Members have the chance to bring this to an end. In a club like ours, the board should welcome scrutiny. Accountability is not an inconvenience - it’s the foundation of a healthy club.”

Higham said many of those raising concerns were people who had given “decades - in some cases 60 years - of their lives to Lancashire Cricket”, including former players, volunteers and senior club figures.

He also criticised comments made last year by outgoing chief executive Daniel Gidney, who described some critics as “entitled old white men”.

“Let that sink in,” Higham said. “Is that really how the club views its own longstanding members and former great players?”

The rebels argue last year’s Member Engagement Review has still not been published while the club has announced a sweeping governance review.

Rebels say a vote of no confidence would send a message the board must refocus on cricket and member satisfaction.

Following the agm, Sir Clive Lloyd was confirmed as the club’s new president, with former captain, coach and director of cricket, Mike Watkinson, elected to the board. Former Lancashire and England bowler Alex Hartley was appointed a vice president.

The three nominated board members - Paul Taylor, Carolyn Macnab and Richard Thomas - were all elected while Dame Sarah Storey and Vic Stewart were re-elected. Watkinson replaces Chris Peacock as the member representative for services and communication.