ECB fear coronavirus pandemic could lead to £200m losses as staff cut-backs are confirmed

The governing body will reduce its workforce budget by 20 per cent and change a number of positions to flexible working roles in order to deliver the Inspiring Generations strategy

• The Hundred, 18 counties and cost-cutting: New ECB chairman Ian Watmore outlines his vision

The England and Wales Cricket Board fear the coronavirus pandemic could leave a £200m black hole in the sport and have announced a series of measures to help adapt to the crisis.

Chief-executive Tom Harrison, who has led the cost-cutting charge, took a 25 per cent pay cut, and some staff were placed on furlough as the scale of the pandemic hit home.

But the ECB have confirmed a fresh wave of measures. They will reduce their workforce budget by 20 per cent, with 62 staff being removed from their structure. Additionally, some current positions will be changed to flexible working roles.

Such measures are to ensure the ECB can survive the pandemic and deliver on their Inspiring Generations Strategy.

"I am very proud of the work that has been done by my colleagues across the business and the sacrifices made at a time when we asked them to work harder than ever before while managing their own personal experiences of COVID," said Harrison

"It is now an irrefutable fact, however, that the impact of this pandemic is significant and will be long-lasting. There is also deep uncertainty about the future, and it is vital we take more steps now to ensure the future financial sustainability of cricket in England and Wales.

"The entire cricket network has pulled together to get us through this challenge so far and overcoming it will mean continuing to work in partnership and continuing to make tough decisions as we have done this year. We must reduce the cost base across the game - and that requires the ECB to lead the way by reducing its own cost base."

Harrison had previously indicated that the coronavirus outbreak could cost the game £100m, but that figure is now expected to double.

Though the ECB have successfully staged a full international summer for England's men, a shortened red-ball season, a reduced T20 Blast, and the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, all competitions have taken place without supporters.

^{England's men have played a full schedule - but all matches have been behind closed doors}

While the hope is that crowds could return to major events from October 1, there are fears spectators will still be locked out of matches come next summer.

A continuation of that will have a major impact on the first-class counties and the ECB, for whom matchday income is a major part of the balance sheet.

The ECB have offered financial support to the first-class and recreational game, with a total of £96.7m helping to prop up the sport.

Players have also helped the game survive during the most challenging period in its history, with all-but two counties furloughing their squads. Wages totalling £15m have been either delayed or forgone entirely, with contracts for The Hundred not coming in until next year.

Despite the range of measures announced by the ECB, others could follow. Chairman Ian Watmore earlier this month refused to rule out a move from the ECB's Lord's base or changes to the Loughborough academy.

Speaking to the media earlier this month, Watmore added: "It is inevitable that we are going to have to reduce expenditure on the ECB itself going forward. I am always going to ask people to align with the Inspiring Generations Strategy. What's good for that is good to spend money on.

"A lot of companies are looking at their real estate and we will be doing the same. We need to look at how best we have a flexible operating model for the ECB going forward. It might mean more remote working, it might mean working around the country.

"I don't regard anything as ring-fenced. The direction of travel is set. We need to plan next season very carefully. Clearly we're going to have to look at what is feasible and affordable and what will make maximum impact in the context of the summer of cricket."

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