MCC Lord’s tactics set to be exposed
THE true extent to which MCC have attempted to obstruct property developer efforts to fund the renovation of Lord’s is set to be revealed in the next week.
Lord’s are staging five consultation evenings for members to debate the choice between Rifkind Associates paying £150million to build two residential towers at the Nursery End or the club funding the work, without the property element.
MCC said their review of the plans would be neutral but it is heavily weighted towards rejecting RA’s proposal. That is the step the main committee will be likely to take when they make their recommendation before the 18,000member vote in September.
RA have not even been allowed to distribute Morley Plan pamphlets, detailing their design for the twin towers, at the consultation evenings. But the astonishing way they have been treated by MCC hierarchy over two decades is sure to emerge when questions are asked.
It includes MCC blocking RA’s near 300-page blueprint document Vision for Lord’s from being sent to members. It is also claimed that the Lord’s hierarchy stopped a book by former MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw (above) being published in the UK. Bradshaw was so enthusiastic about Vision for Lord’s that he agreed a documented 50-50 development partnership with RA.
Members have also been kept in the dark that RA have offered — on top of their £150m Nursery End scheme — a further £100m to develop the Pavilion End.
MCC say it is ‘inappropriate’ for Morley Plan literature to be handed out at meetings, the Vision has long been scrapped, the committee never supported Bradshaw’s RA partnership and have no knowledge of his book. lUEFA
president Aleksander Ceferin has been quick to praise England Under 20s’ World Cup triumph. In a letter to FA chairman Greg Clarke, he said the victory underlines the excellent work done by the FA at youth level, adding: ‘An old myth says you don’t produce outstanding talent. Dominic Solanke, Freddie Woodman and their team-mates showed the world this myth is a lie. I’m convinced your senior team will soon benefit.’ Hmmm... ONLY the baffling Lawn Tennis Association could accept being left in limbo for another six months, waiting until January for the arrival of new CEO Scott Lloyd despite a prolonged selection process. The LTA say it will take that long to wind down Lloyd’s existing commitments. lCRICKETER
magazine editor Simon Hughes continues to challenge the authorities over video content. Having been reprimanded by the ECB last season for filming on the pitch — where he spends more time than most players — The Analyst posted a pirate video on Twitter of Pakistan’s run chase against England in the Champions Trophy which was later withdrawn.