We want one of the franchises, say Notts

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE chief executive Lisa Pursehouse is keen to secure a T20 city franchise for Trent Bridge.

The proposed eight-team tourmanent is set to be staged from 2020.

Pursehouse said: “Eight teams (in a new competition) is a consideration, with venues to be confirmed. The new comp would be differentiated from the existing county comp. You’d keep all your Notts traditions. You would still have Notts Outlaws.

“There would be another competition aimed at a new audience. We wouldn’t necessarily expect a team to be here. That’s to be confirmed. We definitely would like to have a team here. T20 is important to us.

“Our brand as Notts Outlaws is very strong. We’re the highest attended venue outside London. There’s an appetite for T20 and an appetite for all cricket in the county. I think we can possibly sell out a domestic T20 game here eventually.

“This is not about one thing in isolation though. That’s so important to say. It’s about growing the game.

“How do we ensure financial stability for county cricket? How do we increase participation? T20 is the means by which we can underpin that.”

Nottinghamshire are also making plans to carry out more work at Trent Bridge to ensure that they continue as a Test ground.

Pursehouse is ready to increase the size of the club’s loans to carry out further work.

She added: “For 2016 our budgeted loss was £1.6m but we turned it around to £741,000, so it was a positive result. It’s not a surprise and it’s part of a four year cycle.

“I’m completely comfortable with where it is. What it shows is that it’s essential we retain Test cricket.

“You couldn’t sustain those losses year on year on year.

“The debt is an investment. We’ve had a very measured approach to taking on debt. It’s in line with what the business can afford in the short, medium and long term.

“The broadcast facilities were no longer fit for purpose. We need to compete with other venues and it enables us to reduce the scope of any development in the Pavilion.”