Clear out at WDCU after bombshell race review

THE board of the Western District Cricket Union last night announced that all office bearers and committee members are to step down from their positions. The resignations come on the back of Monday’s bombshell review into Cricket Scotland, which found the organisation to be ‘institutionally racist’. WDCU were named in the report and were placed in ‘special measures’, which effectively took all power away from them with regards to how they handle complaints and disciplinary issues. The report, conducted and published by Plan4Sport, declared a complete lack of confidence in the governance of WDCU, particularly in their ‘ability to manage cases of racism fairly and transparently’. With their positions now untenable, the WDCU announced the resignations last night further to a meeting held with its member clubs on Tuesday night. A statement read: ‘The WDCU thanks everyone who came forward to share their experiences of racism in the game in the west of Scotland, and sincerely, and unreservedly, apologises to everyone who has experienced racism, or other forms of discrimination, during their involvement with cricket in WDCU competitions, and at WDCU member clubs. ‘The WDCU fully accepts the findings of the review, which is the first stage in the process, and will now engage with sportscotland and Cricket Scotland in the next phase to implement fully the review’s recommendations. ‘The WDCU is dismayed by the review’s finding that there was “little confidence in the WDCU’s ability to manage cases of racism fairly and transparently”, but fully accepts, and respects, that finding. ‘The WDCU Committees and Disciplinary & Appeals Panel wholeheartedly endorse the need to allow our member clubs to establish leadership in which they have confidence by facilitating whatever changes in leadership they, acting on behalf of their memberships, desire. ‘To this end, the Committees unanimously agreed that all office bearers and committee members will step down from their positions at the earliest practicable opportunity. All involved recognise, and applaud, the bravery of those who have stepped forward to share their experiences of racism in our game, and acknowledge the damage racism causes to its victims, sport, and society in general.’