Open Letter Sent to Members Ahead of AGM
A group of former players, led by Mike Gatting, the former England captain, has issued a critical evaluation of Middlesex County Cricket Club's leadership as the new season approaches, warning that the club is at risk of "drifting towards irrelevance."
In an open letter addressed to members ahead of the club’s annual general meeting on 15 April, Gatting and his co-signatories highlighted concerns about transparency and described the cricket structure as "a mess." Among those who have endorsed the letter are Desmond Haynes, the former West Indies opener, and England’s Mark Ramprakash.
"Middlesex was once a byword for excellence in the game, a club with a proud history of success and a strong, competitive culture brought about by hard work on and off the pitch. Instead, around the counties the men’s teams now are variously regarded as ‘a soft touch’ and ‘lacking fight.’
"The club has been poorly led for too long. Middlesex is first and foremost a cricket club, but the leadership lacks any real cricketing knowledge. Only one person with first-class experience occupies a board position, while only two such former players appear on any of the club’s committees. The cricket administration is structurally a mess, is devoid of accountability and lacks proper checks and balances."
Recent Performance and Challenges
Middlesex, who secured their 11th title in 2016 (including two shared titles), will commence their third consecutive season in Division Two following relegation in 2023. Last summer, the men’s team finished second from bottom in the South Group of the T20 Blast and were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the Metro Bank Cup. The women’s team competes in the second tier of county competitions but achieved success by winning the T20 Blast League 2 last summer.
Off the field, the club faces additional challenges. Middlesex remains the only first-class county without ownership of its home ground. Approximately 60% of their income derives from disbursements by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), a figure significantly higher than the average 25% across the 18 first-class counties.
Access to funds from last year’s Hundred sale is restricted, as these are earmarked for debt repayment—which is minimal for Middlesex—and infrastructure improvements. A minor but indicative issue is that this week’s media day will not include photography due to a delay in the delivery of the new kit.
Financial and Administrative Issues
Financial difficulties previously led to Middlesex being placed under special measures by the ECB in 2023. The club has been seeking external investment, including exploring demutualisation. The accounts for the current year have yet to be published, but losses are anticipated.
The club is currently managed by an interim chief operating officer, Mahdi Choudhury, who is on secondment from Marylebone Cricket Club. The chief executive, Andrew Cornish, has been on a "leave of absence" since late last year following an allegation of misconduct, which he denies. The case is currently under review by the Cricket Regulator.
Focus on Men’s Cricket and Player Development
This recent intervention, supported by former players including John Emburey, Clive Radley, and former president Mike Selvey, primarily addresses the men’s cricket operations. They emphasize a failure to develop sufficient home-grown talent despite the club’s extensive catchment area in north London and its history of success.
"The players are a product of their environment and in areas where the standard of coaching has been poor, the players have not been sufficiently challenged resulting in inadequate standards becoming the norm, insufficient to compete at the level to which we should aspire.
"We would strongly encourage members who genuinely want their club to flourish again and not get left behind drifting towards irrelevance, to attend [The AGM] in numbers and seek answers, in an open forum, from those responsible."
Pressure on Other Counties
Middlesex is one of three counties facing scrutiny from former players ahead of the County Championships starting this Friday. A group including Matt Prior and Mushtaq Ahmed has called for the Sussex board to resign following financial penalties that resulted in a 12-point deduction. Additionally, David Lloyd is among a group of ex-Lancashire players openly questioning the governance of their club.
