"Lean structure" could help Worcestershire cope with coronavirus crisis

Since Matt Rawnsley left his role as chief executive on October 25, the club has not filled the post, with chairman Fanos Hira instead managing matters

Worcestershire chairman Fanos Hira believes that his club could be better placed to deal with the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis than some of English cricket’s traditionally wealthier counties.

Since Matt Rawnsley left his role as chief executive on October 25, the club has not filled the role, with Hira instead managing matters. In the chairman’s report, which was released in early March, it stated that: “Our working assumption at this stage is that we will not hire a CEO.”

Similarly, Worcestershire do not employ a director of cricket; instead, the Cricket Steering Group reports to the club’s board. Vice-chairman and former player Paul Pridgeon chairs the committee, which also includes first team coach Alex Gidman, assistant coach Alan Richardson, head of player and coach development Kevin Sharp and second team coach Kadeer Ali.

“We're the only county that doesn't have a six-figure paid CEO,” Hira told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

“We don't have a director of cricket either, probably on similar pay, so we are a lean structure.

“In the past where it has probably been disadvantageous to counties with non-Test match grounds, now we're not reliant on the vast amounts of hospitality income or big functions that occur in these vast venues.

“So, in many respects, although the impact on us is great, for many other counties with higher fixed costs that impact could be a lot greater. Perhaps it's an advantage to us during this period of enormous uncertainty.”

Some counties, Worcestershire included, have furloughed members of their non-playing staff through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme put in place by the government. Thirty of their 45 off-field staff have been furloughed, with 15 volunteering an equivalent pay cut.

He added that, in the case of the entire season being lost, “the impact of that would be enormous”.

“It would be a seven-figure hit – over £1million – If that were to occur. But once you identify what the problem is then you take pre-emptive steps to mitigate it. It's fair to say that the club can cope with that.”

^{New Road was not set to be ready for Worcestershire's first home game of the County Championship campaign after flooding}

On Friday, England men’s centrally contracted players made an initial donation of £500,000 to the ECB and selected good causes in light of the coronavirus crisis.

The precise details of the charitable donations are to be decided over the next week by the players; the contribution is the equivalent of all of the players taking a 20 per cent reduction in their monthly retainers for the next three months.

The players will continue to discuss the ever-changing situation with the national governing body and will consider how best to support the cricketing and wider community.

England’s women have also volunteered to reduce their salaries through April, May and June, in line with their coaches and support staff.

Captain Heather Knight, who has also volunteered as part of the NHS volunteer scheme, said: “All the players felt like it was the right response in the current climate to take a pay cut in line with what our support staff are taking.

“We know how the current situation is affecting the game and we want to help as much as we can. We will be discussing with the ECB further ways we can help the game in the coming weeks.”

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ECB chief executive Tom Harrison has also taken a voluntary 25 per cent reduction in his salary for two months as part of the governing body’s attempts to lower central costs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measures came into effect from April 1, with the executive management team and board receiving a salary drop of 20 per cent, while measures are in place to consult with staff on reducing all employees' salaries for two months.

Proposed cuts will vary according to the employee’s job grade, with all other employees set to have their pay temporarily cut between 10 and 25 per cent.

Some ECB staff are also being asked to consent to furloughing, with the governing body supplementing their pay to ensure that they retain 100 per cent of their reduced salary.

All recruitment is also being frozen for the rest of 2020, with critical posts only filled in the event that an employee leaves the ECB.

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