Lancashire chairman steps down
CRICKET CHRIS OSTICK
LANCASHIRE chairman Michael Cairns is stepping down.
On the day the club announced an operating profit of £1.2m, Lancashire have also revealed Cairns will retire from his role at the AGM on April 24.
No replacement has yet been named, but it is likely to be current vice chairman David Hodgkiss.
Cairns, who joined the Lancashire committee in 2000 and took over as chairman in 2008, has led the club through a massive period of transition on and off the field.
It came to a head in 2011 when a long, crippling, legal battle over the redevelopment of Emirates Old Trafford almost brought the club to its knees.
But they won through, and the completion of the new 150-room hotel this summer will end a £60m transformation of the ground which has seen the building of The Point, a facelift of the pavilion, new stands, player and media centre and turning of the square which has now secured the future of international cricket at the venue.
Cairns also oversaw the introduction of a new board to help steer the club into what is a multi-million pound business. The club also ended a 77-year County Championship drought in 2011 and claimed their first T20 trophy in 2015.
“The completion of this regeneration programme has been very much a team effort,” said Cairns.
“I owe so many people my gratitude for their support over the past ten years, it is impossible to mention them all here.
“However, it would be negligent of me if I were to miss the opportunity to recognise four members of our team – David Hodgkiss, our current vice chairman, Jim Cumbes, our immediate past chief executive, and Lee Morgan, our finance director, have all made an enormous contribution while working tirelessly alongside me from day one.
“We have the most dedicated and loyal employees throughout our club who remain steadfast in their commitment to the well-being and reputation of the club – I have the highest regard for all of them, particularly the chief executive and our excellent executive team who are well placed to take the club to the next level.
“The future looks very positive for Lancashire County Cricket Club. For me it has been an enormous privilege to have been involved.”
Club President Sir Howard Bernstein praised the energy, sheer determination and commercial acumen of the retiring chairman.
“Under Michael’s leadership the club has had to overcome a number of huge challenges, particularly throughout the regeneration period, which has resulted in the major transformation that we see today,” he said.
“Michael’s legacy will be the regaining of the club’s status as a leading force in sport and business both domestically and internationally compounded with the platform that has been created to ensure a solid and sustainable future.”