David Harker's Financial Mis-Management

Status
Not open for further replies.
So if I'm reading these threads correctly it's becoming obvious who was responsible for Benks leaving. No surprise.
 


Aye but you can't blame the management for letting some players go. I can assure you now John Lewis would love to have been able to call on Will Smith and Callum Thorp at times this season (for example). I can assure you 1000% that the decision who leaves the club was out of the hands of the coaching staff, it was all purely financial, Lewis has said that numerous times. We got on well with Will Smith and he told us he was never offered a contract, likewise Thorp.

I know Omega Man personally so I know what he has said about various issues.

MDV basically couldn't cope anymore, he loved Durham but he wasn't 100% fitness wise and decided to retire, it was odd it took the club 2 weeks to announce it.

The only thing I won't blame Harker for is allowing Dale Benks to leave the club

I was at a 2nd XI 1 day game at Boro a few weeks ago and some of the players were having to wear shirts belonging to Chris Rushworth, are things really that bad that we cannot afford a personalised shirt or even just a blank shirt for a 2nd XI player?
Iam sure Lewis would love a massive squad full of old hands to call on to play the odd match like Durham had 5 years ago, but that is the reason Durham are in the clarts money wise. They should never have been anywhere near the top end of the salary cap never mind breaking it. And yes that is down to Harker. But if Lewis really wanted to keep Smith they could have released other players and retained him.
 
I don't know the background so will ask a question

With limited income, what should they be doing differently?
Not a lot- they've a very effective academy system which will continue to thrive. Took a risk with an inexperienced seam back up this season particularly as they had questionable fitness records.
 
Not a lot- they've a very effective academy system which will continue to thrive. Took a risk with an inexperienced seam back up this season particularly as they had questionable fitness records.
So how do we have financial mismanagement?

Is the issue that we are cutting costs? Isn't that prudent financial management where your income stream doesn't match your outgoings?

Now obviously we could generate more cash, but that's really tough in county cricket
 
It's enough reading about the debt at SAFC, I can't take on any more of other people's worries. If you owe them money, let them knock, the paint lasts langa than their skin. (Bobby Thompson).
 
So if I'm reading these threads correctly it's becoming obvious who was responsible for Benks leaving. No surprise.

Collingwood and Lewis declined the offer of Benks to help out with the coaching at the club

I don't know the background so will ask a question

With limited income, what should they be doing differently?

Giving Steve Harmison a massive lucrative contract was a massive mistake & that cost the club an absolute fortune.

It's difficult to say what they should be doing as of now but I have always been dubious as to where the money has gone, bearing in mind we have had The Ashes and have had loans/grants off the council. We're pretty much left to blood the youngsters from the academy which Geoff Cook is still a major part of (he was in the nets last Tuesday for about 4 hours) watching on.

Marketing at the club has never been a strong point either, the club needs to promote itself a lot as that ground has so much to offer, more than just cricket as well.

Get incentives going on a more regular basis with Sunderland AFC/Newcastle/Hartlepool along with Universities/Colleges/Schools/Cricket Clubs etc, make them aware what is on offer, offer reduced tickets etc in hope that people will pay a visit and who knows they may enjoy it and come back. Plenty of things they could be doing that it's fair to say they aren't doing.
 
Last edited:
Collingwood and Lewis declined the offer of Benks to help out with the coaching at the club



Giving Steve Harmison a massive lucrative contract was a massive mistake & that cost the club an absolute fortune.

It's difficult to say what they should be doing as of now but I have always been dubious as to where the money has gone, bearing in mind we have had The Ashes and have had loans/grants off the council. We're pretty much left to blood the youngsters from the academy which Geoff Cook is still a major part of (he was in the nets last Tuesday for about 4 hours) watching on.

Marketing at the club has never been a strong point either, the club needs to promote itself a lot as that ground has so much to offer, more than just cricket as well.

Get incentives going on a more regular basis with Sunderland AFC/Newcastle/Hartlepool along with Universities/Colleges/Schools/Cricket Clubs etc, make them aware what is on offer, offer reduced tickets etc in hope that people will pay a visit and who knows they may enjoy it and come back. Plenty of things they could be doing that it's fair to say they aren't doing.
Interesting thanks

I doubt we made that much from the Ashes, but the money the ECB make from selling tests is a separate topic
 
Collingwood and Lewis declined the offer of Benks to help out with the coaching at the club



Giving Steve Harmison a massive lucrative contract was a massive mistake & that cost the club an absolute fortune.

It's difficult to say what they should be doing as of now but I have always been dubious as to where the money has gone, bearing in mind we have had The Ashes and have had loans/grants off the council. We're pretty much left to blood the youngsters from the academy which Geoff Cook is still a major part of (he was in the nets last Tuesday for about 4 hours) watching on.

Marketing at the club has never been a strong point either, the club needs to promote itself a lot as that ground has so much to offer, more than just cricket as well.

Get incentives going on a more regular basis with Sunderland AFC/Newcastle/Hartlepool along with Universities/Colleges/Schools/Cricket Clubs etc, make them aware what is on offer, offer reduced tickets etc in hope that people will pay a visit and who knows they may enjoy it and come back. Plenty of things they could be doing that it's fair to say they aren't doing.
 
Interesting thanks

I doubt we made that much from the Ashes, but the money the ECB make from selling tests is a separate topic
Agreed, it seems to me it's more the case that we really pushed the boat out for a few years and that's come back to bite us in the arse rather than there's been a sudden drop off a cliff.

Wasn't the council loan to help them get out of bother rather than be spent on bringing in players. An investment in the future of the club rather than a short term fix.
 
Collingwood and Lewis declined the offer of Benks to help out with the coaching at the club

I don't understand why Lewis was appointed coach. A few seasons ago it looked like Cook was keeping the seat warm for Benks to eventually take over. I'd rather Lewis left the club and we kept Benks.
 
I think the biggest obstacle to Borthwick's development is the misconception that he'll develop as a leg spinner. Fact is there hasn't been a successful leg spinner in English cricket for 60 years-English wickets nowadays aren't conducive to leg spin. Scott should focus on his batting-there's a top order place going in the England team now Robson has been found out.

Out of interest, why are English wickets condusive to orthodox left arm but not right arm leg? Surely the principles are the same?

Would also point out overseas leg spinners have got something from English wickets eg Kumble, Warne, Mushtaq. Maybe we aren't training them properly?
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top