PCA "appalled and astonished" by Robin Smith jeopardising Yorkshire's existence

Players union chief Julian Metherall has accused the former Headingley chair and president of "threatening behaviour" against Lord Kamlesh Patel as uncertainty grows ahead of the EGM on March 31

Yorkshire are being forced onto the precipice of financial ruin by the actions of former chair Robin Smith, the Professional Cricketers' Association have warned.

Lord Kamlesh Patel's hopes of staging a vote on reforms designed to promote diversity and confirm the return of international cricket to Headingley have faced opposition from the former chair and president.

Smith believes there have been procedural errors during Patel's reign. They include failure to notify the Financial Conduct Authority of rule changes in 2020 and technical issues around informing members of the Extraordinary General Meeting when reforms are scheduled to be voted on.

The latest date for the EGM falls on March 31, on the eve of the ECB deadline. Failure to enact change will see lucrative international and major domestic matches removed from Yorkshire, as a result.

It would be a potentially fatal financial hammer blow to a club who have already lost a handful of leading sponsors following the emergence of the racist treatment Azeem Rafiq was subjected to during his two spells at the club.

^{Lord Patel hopes reforms can be voted through in time (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)}

The ECB have previously criticised attempts to reform practices at Yorkshire. "It is not acceptable for anyone to stand in the way of progress," a statement provided to The Cricketer read.

PCA non-executive chair Julian Metherall has joined those concerned by recent developments and believes Smith's actions are "endangering the future of one of the greatest clubs in England".

"The PCA are appalled and astonished by the actions of Robin Smith, whose behaviour is combative and corrosive," Metherall told The Daily Mail.

"He is endangering the future of one of the greatest clubs in England, and the careers of many cricketers and coaches. 

"If the proposed reforms are not voted through at the EGM then the future of a great club is at risk. It’s absolute madness.

"People are losing sight of the fact that we have had serious allegations of bullying and racism upheld.

"And now we are seeing repeated incidences of threatening behaviour against Kamlesh Patel, who is trying to sort the mess out.

It remains to be seen if international cricket returns to Headingley this summer (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

"It's completely unacceptable and we cannot allow these destructive elements to prevail. The game is in the grip of an existential crisis and it's time everyone parked their egos at the door."

Metherell appeared in front of the DCMS select committee in February and admitted the players' union had failed Rafiq as he faced racism and bullying at Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Smith's attempts to disrupt the process come amid a series of accusations made towards the DCMS select committee, including the claim they put "unlawful pressure" on the ECB to suspend the international ban on Yorkshire.

And in a recent letter to chair Julian Knight, he accused the committee of pre-judging the evidence given by Rafiq during his individual hearing in November 2021 and questioned whether Yorkshire's record in relation to diversity and inclusion "really amount to a sufficient reason" to impose a ban.

Knight has demanded a full explanation of the comments and admits to being "deeply concerned" by events at the club as their future hangs by a perilous thread.