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ECB director quits over 'fiasco' under chairman Colin Graves

nick hoult
Colin Graves (R) is coming under increasing pressure - Getty Images Sport
Colin Graves (R) is coming under increasing pressure - Getty Images Sport

Colin Graves is fighting to retain his authority as chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board after stinging criticism in a resignation letter by board member Andy Nash on Wednesday.

Nash accused Graves of presiding over a “fiasco” allocation of England matches last month, culminating in the failure to reveal to the board compensation payments of £500,000 to the major grounds in the summers when they do not host Tests. Nash believes this will further widen the financial gap between the large and small counties and was angered that, as a board member, he was not informed of the payments.

It follows on from concerns that the counties have not been kept fully informed of developments in the new Twenty20 competition and a lack of risk assessment by the board on the new competition, which was voted through last year.

“I’ve recently become concerned that the standards of corporate governance at ECB are falling well short of what’s acceptable and in all conscience, I can’t allow myself to continue to be associated with it,” he wrote to Graves. “I would be failing in my duty as a director if I didn’t bring these to the board’s attention and this I’ve tried to do. The current fiasco over the actual/alleged/planned payments to Test match grounds is an exemplar. Whether intentional or not it clearly signals to many a move to promote eight counties as the first among equals. As an ardent supporter of the 18 first-class counties, this is not a direction of travel I can live with.

“It’s also come to my attention in the last 24 hours that my actions as a listening and conscientious non-executive director are sadly misunderstood and misinterpreted by yourself. I sincerely regret that because all I want is the best for the game and for good governance of the ECB.”

'T20 used to be a hitting gig - now it's a thinking game'
'T20 used to be a hitting gig - now it's a thinking game'

Nash denied this was the beginning of his own bid to unseat Graves, who has two more years to run in his tenure as chairman of the ECB.

“What I have done is not part of some Machiavellian plan. I have resigned on principle and I have put those reasons in the public domain,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

Sources have indicated that it would take only six of the ECB’s 41 members to force a discussion over a vote of no confidence in Graves at the board’s annual general meeting in May.

Graves faces a crucial two months before then to ensure he retains the support of the counties to strengthen his position at a crucial time for the game. The ECB has a World Cup to organise next year, the new Twenty20 competition has to be a success after signing a £1.2 billion television deal on the back of it changing the face of English cricket, and the chairman has to handle the inevitable fallout with the counties as they discover their place in the new pecking order.

Graves was elected on a promise to bring more money to the county game and has delivered with the new rights deal. But the smaller counties have felt misled in recent months after learning at the end of last year they will not be given ownership stakes in the new tournament. They signed a letter to Graves in December outlining their grievances.

Nash represented the non Test match grounds on the ECB’s board, which is to be re-organised in April with completely independent directors. Nash resigned as chairman of Somerset in January so he could be considered for a place on the new look board. Nash resigned after sensing the uproar among the smaller counties over the payments.

His decision on Wednesday caused widespread shock within the county game but it is not thought that any other board members are set to follow his example.

Graves had said publicly in the past he intended to compensate counties in the years when they do not host Tests. But some of the bidding counties thought this was wrapped up in the new terms and conditions which will see them pay a slice of ticket revenue to the ECB for future matches in place of staging fees. Those counties that host Tests every year will pay 40-50 percent to the ECB. Those not, 20-30 percent but it now turns out there will be top up payments of £500,000 as well.

An ECB spokesman said all payments would only be authorised with the full backing of the board.