Middlesex post first profit since 2016

The club's announcement comes amid a period of economic uncertainty at the county and across the wider domestic game

Middlesex have reported a post-tax profit of £131,000 for the financial year ending last November.

It marked the county's first profit since 2016 and comes amid a period of economic uncertainty at the county and across the wider domestic game.

At the end of the 2023 season, Middlesex were penalised and effectively placed in 'special measures' by the ECB after breaching various financial regulations. 

Following an investigation, the ECB found that funds allocated for the Middlesex Cricket Board, which was meant to be spent on the pathways and recreational cricket, had been used by the county cricket club. 

Those sanctions include a fine of £150,000 – £100,000 of it suspended until October 31, 2025 – as well as points deductions in all three men's county competitions. Again, all the points suspensions are suspended until the end of October 2025.

The ECB also demanded oversight of the club's financial plans going forward, which will limit spending on players and demand they show a "sustainable year-on-year profit". The plans will be monitored by the ECB on a quarterly basis, with them attending Middlesex board and audit meetings.

Middlesex have seen John Simpson leave for Sussex this winter, while Tim Murtagh has retired. The county have brought in both Henry Brookes and Leus du Plooy but, as reported by The Cricketer, they are going without an overseas player in 2024.

The club also announced in November that they would play two T20 Blast matches at Chelmsford this season in order to save money on hosting costs at outgrounds Radlett and Merchant Taylors'.

^{Andrew Cornish is Middlesex's chief executive (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)}

"We are absolutely delighted to be able to announce a profitable year in 2023, which is the result of an enormous amount of hard work, dedication, and commitment from all involved at the club, to ensure that we can operate as a sustainable business moving forwards," said Middlesex chief executive Andrew Cornish.

He added: "After such an extended period of posting significant losses, to turn the business around at a time when the game is under increased financial pressure, is a credit to everyone involved.

"Whilst there will still inevitably be challenging times, I am confident now, that the processes we have in place, make us not only a sustainable business, but puts us in a position to begin to rebuild our financial reserves as a club and invest in future success."

In September, in response to the sanctions handed down by the ECB, Middlesex stressed that the faults had occurred "under [a] previous administration".

"Today's announcement from the ECB draws a line under the matter, and we accept their findings that historically, under previous administration, the club has been poorly financially managed over a number of years," they said at the time.

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