GCB 'move into new era'

THE Guernsey Cricket Board has expanded its executive committee as the sport in the island faces its biggest year yet. In early summer, following an inspection of Guernsey's facilities and infrastructure, the International Cricket Council will decide whether to give the island associate membership and the increased funding that comes with it.

In August, Guernsey hosts the ECC European Second Division Championships and victory in the competition would see promotion to the first division to join the likes of World Cup outfits Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands.

At the end of the year, the indoor centre at Hougue du Pommier is due to be completed.

Due to these factors, the GCB have decided to increase their ruling committee from six to 13 members.

'We felt that the workload on the committee was in danger of becoming too much of a burden and we're moving into a new era,' said GCB chairman Dave Piesing.

'It gives us a much stronger committee to cope with the new challenges ahead. It was a case of creating a new structure to get the right people directly involved.'

The previous committee comprised Piesing, vice-chairman Dave Nussbaumer, treasurer Rob Hutchinson, secretary Mick Fooks, Guernsey Youth Cricket Development Committee representative Ian Damarell and chairman of the Guernsey Cricket Association Mark Latter, who were all voting members.

In the changes, John Mountford has replaced Fooks as secretary.

Fooks will, though, stay on the committee but like the six additions, has no voting rights.

These new non-voting members are John Wood, who is concerned with tournaments, Martin Gray from the Guernsey Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers, Sean Whelan, who looks after the website, the man behind the new indoor cricket centre, Jon Ravenscroft, and the island's development manager, Jason Shambrook.

Senior island coach Dave Hearse has been co-opted as well.

'It's a large committee with lots of voices to be heard, but they are the right voices and they need to be heard,' said Piesing.

The chairman was also keen to point out that under a new constitution, the island's cricket clubs are now direct members of the GCB.

The GCA used to represent them at the annual general meeting and had only a single vote on matters, but now the clubs all have a vote each.

'We're more accountable to the clubs now,' said Piesing.