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Post by newby on Feb 10, 2024 21:13:09 GMT
I expect the usual suspects will have another swipe when CG attends the DCMS, then hopefully we can get on with thinking about the cricketing side.
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Post by hawke on Feb 12, 2024 21:12:40 GMT
Well I have showed my support today in two ways! I have taken out an 8 Day membership for £80. And I emailed Chris Waters to state my thanks and admiration for standing up against the one-sided narrative. He replied with his thanks.
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Post by newby on Feb 12, 2024 22:36:44 GMT
The Board as we start this new chapter.
Colin Graves (Chair) Phillip Hodson (Deputy Chair) Sanjay Patel Sanjeev Gandhi Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson Leslie Ferrar Stephen Vaughan (CEO) Darren Gough (Director of Cricket)
I think we know a bit about Colin Graves, Baroness Thompson, the CEO and the Director of Cricket. Little snippets about the others:
Phillip Hodson: After graduating from Cambridge, Hodson made regular appearances for the Yorkshire seconds, but did not feature for the first eleven. Away from cricket, he started a small business in 1977 and progressed to become the chief executive of The Oval Group, one of largest privately owned corporate insurance brokers in the United Kingdom.[5] He was appointed president of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2011, succeeding Christopher Martin-Jenkins.[8] He was the first Yorkshireman to be MCC president since Sir William Worsley fifty years previously.[5]
Hodson is married to Sally Ann Hodson (née Greig), the sister of the England cricketers Tony and Ian Greig.[9] Their son Will has played cricket at first-class level.
Sanjay Patel joined the ECB in 2015 as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer before adding responsibility for the new competition in 2018. It has been his sole focus since January 2019. In his previous commercial role, Sanjay helped deliver a media rights partnership with Sky and the BBC aimed at widening engagement with cricket and concluding several record-breaking deals with new partners. He also oversaw significant growth in the ECB’s digital and marketing channels.
Leslie Ferrar worked at KPMG for nearly 30 years, running their Employment Tax business for many years, and was part of the Partner Board that ran KPMG’s global tax practice. After KPMG, Leslie spent 7 years managing the corporate services functions for Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. Leslie has served in various non-executive roles over the past ten years, including as a member of HMRC’s Audit Committee, a member of the Council for the Economy for the Vatican, a member of the council of Durham University, as a trustee for The Princes Trust, Breast Cancer Now, the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster, and as a member of the International Integrated Reporting Council. Leslie was appointed to the Club’s Board in May 2022.
I couldn't find much on Sanjeev Gandhi though I know he was with the ECB during Colin Graves tenure.
I can't see any obvious carpetbaggers.
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Post by hawke on Feb 12, 2024 23:21:17 GMT
Many thanks Newby. I’ve said before that Hodson is one of the most impressive speakers I have heard. Delighted he is on board. Hopefully Graves has kept the best of the previous people. We suspect the Baroness is a good pick. And keeping the CEO at least gives continuity. And we don’t have to pay him off!
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Post by karma on Feb 13, 2024 8:40:40 GMT
Thanks newby and hawke. I have a much higher level of confidence in the new board both to make difficult plans to progressively improve YCCC's financial position and to move YCCC forward on the field. I thank those directors who have left (Particularly Harry Chathli) for their work in a very difficult period, feel the new board reflect more accurately our present needs. Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is someone for whom I have the highest respect
My only reservation is Stephen Vaughan, I sometimes wince at his public statements and I still have a lingering question over his previous employment. In Colin Graves we have a very strong Chair, I realise he and Vaughan have different functions but I realise Graves has a wider function than previous Chairs
This excludes Lord Patel who acted as head of HR , PR and unfortunately used the YCCC blank cheque book injudiciously. Lord Patel did some good things but unfortunately these pale into insignificance then compared to the other things for which he will always be remembered by most.
Onwards and upwards
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Post by tbsteve on Feb 14, 2024 1:17:51 GMT
Agree with you Karma. But on the positive side, CG won't suffer fools and I can't see Stephen Vaughan still being in post at this time next year. Keeping some continuity for a few months seems good, but then I'm confident CG will get to work replacing those that aren't up to it. Personally, I'd like to see DG and OG replaced.
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Graves
Feb 14, 2024 6:33:29 GMT
via mobile
Post by karma on Feb 14, 2024 6:33:29 GMT
Agree 100% with you assessment on Vaughan's future.As soon as he opens his mouth all confidence in him disappears.
As for DG, I suspect he's on one of the best contracts in the CC, so a cost saving to be made? On the other hand I think the squad is limited by a next-to-nothing budget.
OG doesn't impress me either. He (and DG) were in position when Yorkshire were almost carelessly relegated. And also when Patto left in strange circumstances.
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Graves
Feb 14, 2024 8:54:02 GMT
Post by newby on Feb 14, 2024 8:54:02 GMT
I wouldn't be happy with wholesale changes on the cricket side just yet. Cricket coaches usually take a little while to bed in and I think and hope that is the situation with Otis Gibson. We have a clear shot at promotion this coming season and if we don't make it then perhaps questions should be asked.
Love him or hate him Darren Gough has been a unifying presence since he came in. He may have other things he wants to do and the new board may have someone in mind but that too I'd let unfold after this season is over.
Stephen Vaughan I suspect will move on when the new board feel they have a handle on everything that is going on at the club.
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Post by tbsteve on Feb 14, 2024 9:35:39 GMT
Maybe a unifying presence, but I haven't been impressed with the overseas or domestic signings. For OG, I see him more of an international coach, good at fine tuning but perhaps not suited to a county side which needs more hands on coaching (as an ex-bowler, I would have expected more from our bowling options but several seem to be going backwards). I was also less than impressed with OG telling JD that he doesn't do radio stints on the comms.
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Graves
Feb 14, 2024 10:46:32 GMT
Post by newby on Feb 14, 2024 10:46:32 GMT
OG I remember did one radio stint as Big Bash summariser before having his knee done. He's a slow thoughtful speaker and certainly not a natural on the medium. I certainly wouldn't hold not wanting a 'banter' session with JD against him.
Day to day coaching we seem to have a cast of thousands, he's the motivation and tactics man surely.
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Graves
Feb 14, 2024 13:00:41 GMT
Post by karma on Feb 14, 2024 13:00:41 GMT
It's difficult to decide where our problems lay and exactly who or what was responsible for our fall into Div2
Yes there were the allegations about racism, the appointment of Lord P, the sacking of the coaching staff, The appointments of new key cricket personnel( DG + OG ), the leaving of 3 established players in one season, the public trials, the financial and points Penalties hanging over YCCC.
I don't think the full extent of the re-financing crisis filtered down to us ordinary supporters and *members but it certainly affected the budget for new recruits and perhaps existing cricket personnel were also aware and motivated accordingly.
Well if we don't make a good attempt at promotion I thinks we've got to look at improvements in staff and I'm not referring just to the playing staff
*Last season at the last members forum to take place at Scarborough I raised a point about the non-performance of the PA on the NE Upper for most of the season . I'd been fobbed off by Josh Wilmer ,YCCC's customer and member liason Officer repeatedly with one lame excuse after another so when I raised it at Scarborough I asked, " was there an embargo on spending because I want it fixed and I want some of my membership refunded?". I also gave the name of the person who fobbed me off. It was actually fixed the next day but had been out of commission for months .
Incidentally the last members forum diarised for last November never took place (No reason given) , nor did the promised replacement members forum (December) take place ( no reason given) Nor did the same customer and member liason officer, Josh Wilmer @ YCCC respond to several queries about the members forum. I've e-mailed him again today asking if I should refer this to the same senior executive as last time. as he seems to have lost the ability to liase with customers and members. I don't like being fobbed off or ignored when I've raised important issues about this club
Late edit - had immediate reply from Josh Wilmer at YCCC .They are still putting together the new Members Forum programme but he expects the first (members forum) in the first month of the new season.
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Graves
Feb 19, 2024 11:42:07 GMT
via mobile
Post by hawke on Feb 19, 2024 11:42:07 GMT
As I think we know, Wayne Morton has recently reached a financial agreement with YCCC. He settled out of court when the ridiculous sexual allegations were dropped. Because of the nature of the allegations Morton took this all the way. He says he has re/mortgaged twice. He thanks Graves for a quick conclusion and says he is glad someone with the club at heart is back involved. Morton also says the matter is still not over for him as he will campaign publicly for the truth to come out. He says his lawyers will go through the Dobell/Rafiq book closely.
I also re/read a release by Andrew Gale who says whatever was said between Balllance and Rafiq was not previously known to him.
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Graves
Feb 19, 2024 12:09:40 GMT
Post by karma on Feb 19, 2024 12:09:40 GMT
I think YCCC or the rather the lawyers acting for them and Lord P ( the defendants in Wayne Morton's High Court action) lost the plot somewhat and the salacious, unedifying tittle -tattle of a defense shows the depths to which they had sunk. With legal fees I estimate the cost for this fiasco is not far short of £1,000,000. Now who had a spare £1,000,000 to stop the bailiffs coming in?
Colin Graves will be in front of the Select Committee tomorrow afternoon and it can go one of two ways .It could be an opening question like , " Now Mr. Graves , can you bring the committee up to date with the progress made by YCCC in combatting racism and moving the club in the direction of being totally inclusive for all? or it could be, " Do you still stand by your previous comments about banter?" I hope though they do not ask about Morton or the claims made at the high court. Probably ask him about putting finances right and which should be interesting and what we all want to know.
Best of luck Colin, 3 of the members of the committee have already found you guilty of being an unsuitable leader at YCCC, based upon their ill-judged and self-promoting comments made under Parliamentary Privilege leading up to the ERM and member's democratic vote. Please bear in mind there's a general election this year and they're just using the opportunity to put themselves in the public eye perhaps by being tough on racism and tough on the causes of racism , namely YCCC (again)
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Graves
Feb 19, 2024 20:36:33 GMT
Post by donnylad on Feb 19, 2024 20:36:33 GMT
Yes .... and if those members were as assiduous in 'tackling' racism elsewhere in our society then the whole place might be somewhat better.
Example - the hideous business of the "95% of all overseas candidates who cheated in the English test" ... and the company that managed the cheating centres (two of them out of Lord knows how many) have 'provided all the evidence we needed' to make dawn raids, smash down doors, imprison people, detain them and deport them.
That was when the Home Secretary of the time - later to be PM - was 'making life unpleasant for immigrants' regardless of the fact that many of them were legal and wanted to work here or study here.
My views on Mr Graves remain what they were .. but least worst option has to be supported and I hope he gives as good as he gets.
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Graves
Feb 20, 2024 15:51:13 GMT
via mobile
hawke likes this
Post by karma on Feb 20, 2024 15:51:13 GMT
I listened to the Select Committee throw a load of rhetorical questions at Graves and Chathli. Lots of showboating from MP's.
Now bearing in mind that Azeem Rafiq has been badmouthing Colin Graves for ages and even been trying to persuade sponsors to withdraw from supporting YCCC do you think Colin Graves would be a hypocrite if he phoned Rafiq and apologised?
I do and yet MP Nicholson asked Graves repeatedly why he hadn't phoned him? Graves has made several public apologies, including a couple today. Rafiq was probably watching. Nicholson referred to speaking with Rafiq last week on the phone and about an alleged attack on his parents home ( thought they were all in Dubai)
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