-48? SO TURN UP THE HEAT
Colly: Durham fury can fuel promotion chase
PAUL COLLINGWOOD wants to turn Durham into promotion contenders by channelling their rage against the ECB on to the field this season.
Starting at minus 48 in Division Two when the campaign opens on Friday, Collingwood’s beloved Durham have been chopped off at the knees by the ECB over their off-field finances and it still hurts.
Not only is there fury at the decision, but also the players are smarting at the loss of their status as the only county side never to have been relegated.
“There was a lot of anger around in the first month or so after finding out we were getting relegated for financial reasons,” said Collingwood.
“Getting relegated hurts. We were the only team not to be relegated since the two divisions came in and we took great pride in that. Every year there was that pressure of staying up.
“But we have to channel that anger and the guys have had to accept it, we’ve got no choice. We can be bitter for the rest of our lives or we can get on with the job.
“Adversity like that does actually bring you together. We’re disappointed we’re in the second division, but it’s not the end of the world.”
And if there is a man who loves a challenge it is ‘Colly’, who at 40 is entering his 22nd year of firstclass cricket as hungry as ever.
“I’ve spent most of my career behind the eight-ball and that’s a situation I relish,” he added.
“Is it possible to make up the 48 points? Probably not, if we’re being honest. But there’s a chance. The weather, those close games – it will all have to go in our favour.”