Derbyshire cricket may have reached an end for two weeks, but my postbag has got bigger than it ever has in the many years I have done this blog.
There has been a recurring theme to the emails - that the senders have major concerns about the club's future and especially under the current Head of Cricket.
I actually took time to write to the chairman to express my concerns, but got no reply. I have many friends within and on the periphery of the cricket club and it was the only way that I could ensure that he was aware of my disappointment and frustration. If you share those concerns, whether as a member or a supporter, there is nothing to stop you writing to him at the Incora County Ground.
In response to those many emails, I am running a poll for the first time in many years, both on here and on Twitter. I am prepared to accept that I and those writing may be in a minority, but the polls will show the current level of support for the status quo.
I would like to think that those who know me and have followed the blog for many years will know I am far from an activist. Every Head of Cricket or coach at Derbyshire has had my support and there are some that I still feel were wrongly treated (Karl Krikken a prime example) when they were dismissed.
What I hear from my contacts suggests there are currently things happening that are very wrong and counter-productive to a cricket club that is going to continue to exist, let alone progress. It is also a concern that pertinent questions cannot be asked at member forums, without being intimated and agreed to at least 24 hours in advance.
I hope that you will take time to vote, either here or on Twitter. My considered opinion is that the club's board is keeping its collective head down and hoping this all blows over. Yes, there have been some reasons for the debacle of this summer, but there are many others that have not been made public and that have also been self-inflicted.
I am not and have never been a 'publicity wing' for the club. I am my own man and always will be. If I like something, I say so, if I don't I am equally prepared for that also.
So, over the next seven days, let me and let the club know how you feel. Yes, I know the club has more limited resources than many, but neither Leicestershire nor Northamptonshire are affluent and manage to punch above their weight by canny recruitment, the use of metrics and not just word of mouth.
Nothing I hear suggests we are going to improve on two bottom places and a second bottom any time soon.
So it is over to you. Feel free to make additional comments - remembering manners, please - below. Please note that Blogger no longer offers an option for a poll option - so please comment below.
For those who have struggled with that:
1 - Click on 'Comments' or 'No comment' if there are none
2 - Type in the box that opens up with what you want to say. Make sure to add your name (or a name for regular use at the end)
3 - From the dropdown below it (alongside 'Comment As' ) choose 'Anon' if you prefer
4 - Click 'Publish'
Thank you
PS vote at https://twitter.com/Peakfanblog/status/1426886462528708609?s=19
I too messaged Mr Morgan asking for action to be taken. He did not respond.
ReplyDeleteIn days gone by Derbyshire members would have been demanding an EGM by now I think the last one was at pride park in 1998 - Ranger 7
ReplyDeleteEven if the chairman disagreed with what was said in your letter, a failure to reply is discourteous and disrespectful. Good leaders don't behave like that. Supporters deserve much better.
ReplyDeleteThe impression a lot of members have had in the last few years is that management board are aloof and out of touch with members and as if it is their own private club, anybody who wishes to stand for the management board has to be interviewed first by the board before they can stand for election the prospective candidate cannot stand for election if the management board considers this person unsuitable the days of an independent member who wished to stand for the committee to represent the members has gone
DeleteIs it possible to note what things you have been referring to recently that are wrong other than the blindingly obvious on the field of underperforming players? There are obviously supporters such as myself from afar that just see things on the field and clearly in the blogs that is a lot going on in the background that a number of us are unaware of.
ReplyDeleteA lot of it is told in confidence, Gary and putting it in public domain may betray that or reveal identities. Need to trust me on this one..
DeleteLike you, PF I am disgusted with the way Houghton has conducted this year’s season and also by the arrogant and disinterested approach that the whole management board has shown to members. Their silence is almost deafening!
ReplyDeleteI have registered my vote on your poll and I’m planning a trip to Lords at the end of the month and will certainly voice my disgust to any Derbyshire Committee member I bump into – but I don’t think either will result in any positive changes.
As members we do need to be heard in a way that may halt the nigh certain demise of our club. Our chances of securing an EGM are remote and the Member’s Forums are stage managed to the extent that “anodyne” implies too much offence. So what if every unhappy member refuses to renew their membership and sends a personal message to the Chairman explaining why?
Financially the membership fees do not approach the level of funding secured from the ECB and TV but that doesn’t matter – if there was sufficient press interest then this would not only get the Management’s attention but it would also put them under the microscope of the providers of the real money in the game. A club without members is no longer a club – would even this Board allow that to happen? Paul
The on field performances this season have been a shambles, and action must be taken by the management board or members like myself, will not renew, and it is very difficult to see where new members will come from. The members forums are sanitized to the extent that members do not ask their own submitted questions, but are asked by club representatives. Moral in the dressing room must be very low and comments by the Head Coach at the last forum about (H.H.) our wicketkeeper were in my opinion disgraceful and totally wrong and the board should have taken the Head Coach to task. In my opinion if anyone is deserving of criticism this season it is not our wicketkeeper.
ReplyDeleteThe hierarchy of any sporting club should be,
1/ MEMBERS /SUPPORTERS. (Lifeblood of club.)
2/PLAYERS.
3/COACHES.(Tacticians and Motivators.)
4/MANAGEMENT BOARD.(Representatives of Members and Supporters.)
We are sadly the worst county team in the country, and urgent action must be taken now, because the situation must be addressed soon, before we lose more players who are assets to the club, and who will be snapped up by more successful counties.
WE MUST ACT NOW.
Good Luck to FHP at Sussex.
Sandy Burnside.
Your blog seems to be turning into a personal agenda driven vendetta against DCCC management.
ReplyDeleteAlong with reference to comments, which you are unable to reveal, from "contacts" it's not a good look...I thought you were better than this. Disappointed. - Jasper
I have NO agenda, Jasper. None whatsoever.
DeleteMy ONLY concern is that supporters and members are aware of disenchantment in and around the club. The board and players need to be aware of this too.
I have a full time job that I could easily replace in keeping up with the mailbag of comments and messages that I currently receive.
I am trusted with the contents of those messages and the identities of the senders.
Quite honestly, I would prefer to return to the easy going nature of most of the previous thirteen years. But I cannot and will not sit back and pretend that everything in the garden is rosy, when it patently isn't.
And if you think it is, then I am as surprised as you seem too be, by my being unwilling to sit back and let it happen.
We carry on as we are and membership next season will be the lowest it's ever been. Not sure how many members we have at present, a few thousand maybe or am I being too generous with those figures?. You should be thinking about your support, Derbyshire obviously don't. Change needed now!
ReplyDeleteFrom memory between a thousand and twelve hundred.
DeleteI have a few weeks ago placed my thoughts on record. The club seems to be on a serious downward spiral. My support has been over 50 years which has covered many teams, and management's. Unfortunately I can say this is the worse season, least competative side I have watched. The future looks bleak as there appears no willingness by the clubs management board to address this situation. Surely a change of team management is needed, as the current management seem incapable of identifying problems and addressing them. The team management have had 3 years to identify and address team shortcomings. We are in my opinion without changes to team management likely to have our few star players leave our club for pastures new, and who could blame them. I am seriously considering for the first time ever not renewing my membership if nothing changes. The management board do not have the option of doing nothing. We all know the ECB and many test match counties will be only too pleased to have us removed from first class cricket. Please management board don't sleepwalk Derbyshire into becoming a none first class county. Take action before it's too late.
ReplyDeleteOne big mystery this season has been the collective loss of form by senior players. Virtually nobody has achieved the batting or bowling performances of previous seasons. Why is this? Is it a coaching problem? Or are players so fed up with the management of the club that it is affecting their game? Secondly we have to face the fact that we have too many players who make little effect on the outcome of matches;players who can perhaps bat a bit or bowl a bit but virtually never turn out match winning performances.Then there's the question of our Academy. Where are the young players who will form the backbone of our team in the future? We seem incapable of nurturing local talent - and then if we do we are incapable of hanging onto them, the latest example being Ben Slater. Finally, which genius decided that Billy Stanlake and Ben McDermott would make good overseas signings this season without making thorough checks on the fitness of the former and the likelihood of the latter being recalled by Australia? All this seems to me to show that our club is run by dithering amateurs and that there should be 'no confidence' vote against them.
ReplyDeleteTo bee fair, Anon, the McDermott situation came out of nowhere and was, unlucky, but you raise valid points. There has been failure after failure by good players, so why is that?
DeleteSimilarly, players on the staff for several years have not improved at all. That has to be a black mark against any coaching setup, regardless of the sport.
A major problem at the moment is the lack of comment coming from the club. Do they expect us to be happy with Bottom in County Championship, Bottom but 1 in T20 (possibly would have been bottom without Covid postponements) and bottom in RLODC. Yet 2 out of 3 news articles are about a Tina Turner tribute concert the other is about one of our best players leaving.
ReplyDeleteIt would help if someone showed their face and explained what the plan is to prevent a season like this happening again.
If there is to be a change of management it needs to be sorted sooner rather than later as when players become available they know who is in charge.
The worst thing that could happen is if they decide to have an enquiry into what went wrong as this would drag into next season, nothing would change and any problems would be swept under the carpet.
We all want Derbyshire to be as successful as they can, we are realistic with our limitations but the club need to engage with supporters more.
I agree, David on all of that. I would guess that the HOC has to work 3 months notice and a recruitment process that was, robust would take similar time. So even starting now, the likelihood is that someone wouldn't start until December.
DeleteYes I'm sure a change of management (again no alternative suggested) will prevent our best batsman tearing his hamstring, a collective loss of form by a much vaunted (pre-season) top order, Australia recalling our overseas, a catalogue of injuries, enforced covid isolations.....
ReplyDeleteOf course everything in the garden isn't rosy and errors have been made. In my opinion, the signing of Stanlake was a risk, and we persevered with Godleman too long in the T20, though whose decision was that? Cork or Houghton, maybe both but we don't know.
Also, Godleman returns to the side in his more favoured format, fires off a century and then gets injured. But I guess that was Houghton's fault as well...
Yes, some of the players we have are unfortunately not good enough, but hey it was ever thus.
The way I see it, this band wagon that some people seem to be jumping on needs to slow down. Some of the criticisms are simply ludicrous.
No issue with any of that, Jasper. I have said every pre season that to do well we need a share of luck and for everyone to play to potential. Outside of two or three, I can't think of any who has, this year.
DeleteWhy is that? Why has our batting been collectively awful this year? Why have bad decisions on recruitment been made? Who has made public criticisms of a young wicket keeper, and sent in a man with a decent career average and experience of batting three as an announced 'night watchman'? What impact does that have on a fragile confidence and dressing room?
I have heard 'awful man management' used too often this summer. It is given credence by under performance.
As for the Godleman selection, regardless of whether it was Cork or Houghton, the buck stops with the HOC. If he felt it wasn't a good move, he had authority to stop it. And didn't.
Throw in overseas recruitment and recent ones that appeared excessive in duration for unproven talents and there are genuine concerns. Why was Wood worth one year and Came/Thomson 2.5? Is there that much between them? They cannot both make sense as decisions..
I think that there is now more of an urgency to show that counties like Derbyshire have a right to be a first class county especially now the big boys have had a taste of franchise cricket with the Hundred they are only going to want more.
DeleteWe will be told at the end of the season that the Hundred has been the equivalent of the second coming when at best it has been nothing more than OK. Whilst they have reduced the format where England are World Champions to a glorified second XI competition.
I am unsure the best way to proceed regarding the management and am currently 50/50 on the In/Out Question but the fact in red ball cricket we haven't managed to score past 150 in the last 6 innings suggest something is wrong with either motivation or preparation of the batting line up. Surely even with players out we should be able to manage 150+
The natural consequence of the 100 is the limp batting yesterday at international level. The answer for a long time was to have a Test squad and a one day squad.
DeleteThat is feasible with 18 counties and 300 players. Cut it down to 8 teams and some of them from overseas, the challenge for maintaining standard in Test cricket is clear.
Root can do it, but he plays little one day cricket and is an exceptional player. The rest, with their technical idiosyncrasies, their strong bottom hands and desire to play at everything will ALWAYS struggle against a good attack.
I fear for the game I love, I really do.
I think the 50 over cup has had some merits. Brooke Guest has flourished and Wagstaff has gained valuable experience. The T20 would have been a better campaign with the inclusion of Wood, although he may have been injured for part of it. Hughes and Madsen are also big misses in this format.
ReplyDeleteThe four day form has been little short of awful and I'm struggling to think of excuses why and how we can improve. I feel this format has been neglected for too long, hence a fall in standards. Kris.
I think Wood had a back spasm for one game, Kris, but should have played in the tournament that suited him best far earlier.
DeleteI agree that Guest as batsman and keeper has been a plus this year. Wagstaff looks a talent, but at 17 it would be unfair to pile too much expectation on the young man's shoulders!
Why have England only got one batsman who can score runs? Will Messrs Silverwood, Thorpe, Collingwood, Trescothick be looking for alternative employment soon? Maybe players should take more responsibility themselves...
ReplyDeleteAre these comments about awful man management authenticated? How are these proven and is it possible some have got personal agendas? Has DH been given the right of reply against such allegations?
If Wayne Madsen speaks highly of DH and is on record as saying he was one of the reasons he stayed with Derbyshire when other offers were being made then that's good enough for me. I accept that over a period of time relationships can and do sour and maybe some players aren't "on board" with current management but I along with the vast majority have no proof of this. The inference that under performance is as a consequence is a massive assumption to make, in my opinion.
As I have stated before, the coach sees these players day in day out, we don't, and he is best placed to make decisions on contracts and of course we all have our own opinions. He will stand or fall on such decisions.
Fwiw ( and it's worth diddly squat) I do think Came "has something" but I'm not convinced by the awarding of 2 years to Thompson. I have commented previously on Wood and agree with one year, I remain to be convinced by his red ball credentials.
I take your point re Godleman and T20. Maybe DH should have been stronger. Perhaps it was a case of him wanting to completely hand over the reigns to Cork during the T20? Whatever the scenario, the buck did stop with DH on that. As I said previously, this was a mistake.
I can't comment on the young wicketkeeper "criticisms" (presumably Hosein) as I don't know the details. As for the Hughes night watchman scenario, that was certainly odd but do we know if Hughes volunteered for this himself? Have I missed a statement on this? Unless we know the full details how can we make an informed comment? let alone use it as a criticism.
To conclude, I don't think for a minute that everything is perfect, but some of the criticism is unwarranted. It might also be worth noting that some making comment might have agendas or even close connections with current players....
You have your stance on this, Jasper and that is fine. It is all about opinions.
DeleteWere I to tell you what I have been told and by who, it would change your mind, but I can't, because I NEVER betray confidences, in work, personal or professional life.
Be assured that none of those have axes to grind. The info I have comes from a disparate group of people that couldn't all have.
Anyway, lets leave it at that, as I haven't time for verbal sparring on top of the rest in my life at present.
My ONLY concern in all of this is that if Derbyshire follow a dismal 2021 - for whatever reasons - with an equally dismal 2022, the County Ground will be an entertainments venue only in the not too distant future.
We will become the number one and obvious target in the cull of counties that is a natural consequence of the 100.
Leics and Northants have fought back this year. We HAVE to do next year
Jasper has said I've been wanting to get round to saying for the last few weeks. It might be worth taking a poll of how many of the doom and gloom people on this forum actually go to games and invest any money in the club. The atmosphere at the ground has been really good, most of us are just happy to be able to sit in the fresh air watching live sport. Most of the membership have paid in over £300 in the last two years to watch a few days cricket. Things are not good on the playing side but as a member for over 60 years the majority of years haven't been great. If you want a side that wins trophies perhaps go and support someone else.
ReplyDeleteA long time bugbear of mine, Snapper...
DeletePre-streaming I have been lucky to see three games a season in the flesh. I live a 620 mile round trip from the Incora County Ground. Does it make me less of a fan because I can't attend? I would like to think the time spent on this blog might highlight my support.
I would never challenge anyone for an opinion on something. Derby County Twitter is poisonous with 'I am a bigger fan than you because...'
We all have commitments, responsibilities and lives that dictate what we do. I fit my cricket into and around my life, but don't live my life for it.
Were I retired and living within 50 miles of Derby, I would miss little cricket. But I know many with opinions in a similar situation to me and they are entitled to them, whether or not they are there all the time.
Social media is poisonous full stop
DeleteIt is at its best in the world of dogs, Ranger. Trust me, dog Twitter is its finest (only?) form!
DeleteI quite agree, everyone is entitled to their opinion but the bottom line is without financial support the club ceases to exist. If everyone had asked for a refund last year there would now be no Derbyshire County Cricket club. I just feell twe need to cut the management a bit of slack no one could have foreseen the injury crisis the club has had to endure this year.
ReplyDeleteYour opinion, Snapper and you are entitled to it, of course.
DeleteThe memberships were handy and appreciated by the club and certainly help with cash flow. But I recall a long chat with Chris Grant a few years back and the membership money alone wouldn't keep ANY county afloat. The ECB money and what they raise off the field does most of that.
Which is why it is SO important for us to bring through our own and get more money each time a club product takes the field.
And why our long term strategy should reflect that, with one or two top drawer overseas players to set the standards.
Anyway Steve! I along with many others appreciate the time and effort you spend doing this blog. I don't check other counties blogs, (why would I!) but I'd be surprised if there's a better County blog out there. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteOne thing's for sure....we're all Derbyshire aren't we?!!
Hundred per cent, mate! The only reason we disagree is because we have opinions. We have opinions because we care.
DeleteIf there was no Derbyshire I might go and watch Durham occasionally, but I would watch and support us at whatever level we played.
Thanks for the kind words, appreciated! As I have always said, I have no issue with people having different opinions to me, as long as those, opinions are politely and pleasantly exchanged!
Keep well, keep contributing
The concern the club ought to have, and it's pretty much the same for Derby County, is that those who were once worried, then blo*dy annoyed, move to apathetic. And with an eighteen day gap in August without fixtures...who agreed to that?
ReplyDeleteI would like to respond to a few negative comments about the management of the club recently. Firstly, I wanted to say I have had the good fortune to meet our Chairman, Ian Morgan on a few occasions and find him an extremely courteous and polite man. Ian is a successful businessman and I am delighted he is at the helm of our great club. He and the Chief Executive, Ryan Duckett have done a great job securing the future of the club, returning profits despite being a small county and with the second smallest membership.
ReplyDeleteI accept it has been a disappointing season but I do think there have been mitigating circumstances. The number of injuries we have had, Godleman, Madsen, Hosein, Conners, Melton, Cohen and now Guest. That is the core of the team. Add in the difficulties with our international players, McDermott having to return to Australia, the injury to Stanlake, and remember we would have had Sean Abbott last season had it not been for Covid, and presumably for the season. Now throw into the mix that we have lost Critchley, Du Ploy and Reece to the Hundred. That is 12 first team players lost for much of the season. No county could survive and thrive with that, just look at Middlesex for example.
I do not believe the Executive Team can be held responsible for the performance on the field, that is down to the coaching team and players. I would refer everyone on this blog to reflect on our comments we all made at the start of the season and the optimism we had then. Hindsight as they say is a wonderful thing! We now can’t blame the Executive for things that have gone wrong on the field, particularly with all these injuries.
I have nothing but admiration for the the Chairman and the Executive Team and I would urge all supporters to get behind the club during this difficult time. I for one WILL be renewing my membership next year as I have now doubt Ian Morgan and Ryan Duckett will be doing all they can to turn things around
Clay Cross Mark
Thanks Mark. I have no issue at all with the Chairman or CEO. Both have always shown me great courtesy and you cannot ask for more than that.
DeleteThe things you point out are valid and I have never denied the challenges faced this year.
Crucial now, however, is the winter. Despite my concerns, and those of others, I suspect DH will remain in charge and I will remain a Derbyshire supporter, even though I feel change is needed NOW.
This is a massive winter with an opportunity to rebuild with a lot of contracts ending. We MUST bring in better players, especially in the crucial overseas roles.
I would love to see DH do that and, despite my reservations, would be thrilled if he proved me wrong and did that. I will be happy to hold my hands up at that point and admit I was wrong.
But.. And it is a big but.. I remain to be convinced. As a one and one coach he has a great reputation. As a bloke he is approachable and pleasant. As HOC? He has to get the best out of players who are not without talent. And at present is failing to do so.