Arron Banks outlines three-point plan to overhaul Gloucestershire

The Brexit-backing businessman proposes meeting with club members to discuss plans to replace "a committee of well-intentioned amateurs"

gloucestershirecricket180501-min

Arron Bank wants to bring down the Gloucestershire hierarchy and prevent the club from existing "only in cricket's history book".

Members have been invited to his home on June 4 to discuss his plans to overhaul the club which he claims is in a "downward spiral, in "managed decline" and "poor shape" financially.

Last month saw David Jones removed as club chair and losses of £1.2 million was confirmed for the last year.

On Thursday (May 16), it was announced that acting chair Steve Nelson and Rebecca Watkin, the honorary treasurer, will step down from the executive board at the end of the season after five-year terms.

Related: Gloucestershire seeking new chair after David Jones departure

banksa180501-min

Arron Banks pictured in London (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Banks founded the pro-Brexit campaign group Leave.EU and loaned them £8 million for the 2016 EU referendum. In a profile published in the same year, he was described by The New Statesman as "the man who bought Brexit".

His business background is focused on insurance. One former company, Brightside Group, were the naming sponsor of the County Ground and another sponsored Somerset during the T20 Blast.

The current chair of Thornbury Cricket Club claims to have been a Gloucestershire supporter for "many years" and has a long-term vision for the club comprising three objectives.

They include building a new home ground (the club have already outlined plans to leave Nevil Road); winning the County Championship for the first time; and hosting a Test at the new venue.

Related: Rejuvenation, language and a hybrid surface: How Gloucestershire ended 600-day drought

brownw180501-min

Banks has met with Gloucestershire's chief executive Will Brown (Harry Trump/Getty Images)

He has identified a "suitable" new chair and is open to changing the ownership model to incorporate third-party investment and members.

The letter, sent to members and uploaded via his X account, also includes his vision for the future of the Championship while incorrectly citing the "17 sides" which play the competition.

Subsequent posts on X made reference to "GLEXIT", the ECB being taken over by a "woke, diversity, inclusion and equality cult" and that "country cricket has been left to rot".

In response to the letter, a Gloucestershire statement to The Daily Telegraph read: "As a prominent sports club we regularly have local businesses and business people reach out to us from across a range of industries and backgrounds and it's standard practice and good governance for us to meet with them to hear their thoughts and views."

Join The Cricketer's brand new Whatsapp channel for the latest breaking news, comment and features - click here to become a member


Related Topics

Comments

THE CRICKETER NEWSLETTER Get all the latest cricket news to your inbox, twice a week SIGN UP

Thank You! Thank you for subscribing!
LOADING

ALL TEAMS

LV= INSURANCE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

T20 BLAST

ONE-DAY CUP

Units 7-8, 35-37 High St, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough, LE128PY

website@thecricketer.com

Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.