At a time when sports clubs are flirting with the dangers of administration, there is a lot to be said for Derby being the epicentre of those that are well run.
Derby County are probably one of the best organised in football circles, with Tom Glick having done an impressive job there. Having said that, the real accolades deserve to go to Chris Grant, Keith Loring and the rest of the commercial team at Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
A year ago we were in something of a mess. The committee had split into factions and Don Amott had announced his resignation as chairman. The internet was awash with indignant comment and the club was revealing losses of £180,000. Despite recording modest profits for each of the previous four years, the loss generated more interest in the media than those four combined. It was another argument for "getting rid" of small counties, those who don't produce England players, bring in all the Kolpaks and lose money, despite the ECB handouts.
The loss should not in any way be laid at the door of the admirable Keith Loring, one of the best Chief Executives in the county game. There were mitigating circumstances, but despite the best efforts of Loring and his excellent team, Derbyshire recorded a level of loss that was unsettling for fans.
After all of this, the club suddenly had a new chairman, a man who had only recently joined the commitee and was as surprised as the rest of us at his premature elevation to the reins. Chris Grant was known for having been an extremely successful businessman in London and for helping transform the fortunes of his local club at Swarkestone. There was a natural wariness from supporters when he took over - after all, he was succeeding a man, in Don Amott, who was a local boy made good - one of us. Everyone knew Don, liked him and respected him.
What few realised at that time was that Mr Grant was one of us too, a fan who wanted to put something back. Within weeks of taking charge he had gone through the cost headings of the club with Keith Loring and knew what we were spending in all of them - essential if things were to be turned around. They realised where savings could be made and where additional income could help to ease the burden. The season started encouragingly, but then there was the additional turmoil of the "Morris Affair". This is old ground now and while the facts have never been made public, one could only respect the speed and decisiveness with which the chairman acted - even if, at the time, it seemed extraordinary to lose the head of cricket mid-match.
Within weeks we had Karl Krikken at the helm and a new blueprint for the future, one in which young players were, for the first time, paid the going rate for their age and talents. The better ones were given the long-term security of contracts at an appropriate rate, contracts that saw them required to give back to the club with coaching of younger players, but given the opportunity to work towards coaching badges and future careers. The staff was trimmed, but those remaining, the key personnel of an exciting squad, were rewarded with enhanced deals from the savings and tied up on deals that were good for them and certainly for the club.
A development fund was set up, one that has enabled Ross Whiteley to play in Australia this winter and six players to hone their skills in India recently. Meanwhile Karl Krikken had the money to bring in specialist coaches where he saw fit, some of which will see world-renowned batting coach David Houghton return to the club this summer.
The club is, in short, professional from top to bottom. That professionalism deserves to come to the wider attention of the media as Derbyshire will not be seen as makeweights from now on. A young and talented group of players has been augmented with three exciting overseas imports; others are emerging from the Academy and locally-reared talent is beginning to form the nucleus of the first team squad.
Off the field the club's facilities are being recognised and utilised by local people, groups and organisations and innovative marketing campaigns are being rewarded, the club winning awards for their efforts. It is a far cry from the somewhat shambolic past, where despite the best efforts of well-intentioned individuals, the club rather lurched from year to year.
Rome wasn't built in a day and you don't build a cricket club in a year. But rock solid foundations have been laid over the last twelve months, foundations that could well see Derbyshire emerge as a genuine role model for cricket clubs, on and off the pitch, over the next ten years. For that we can be grateful to a small but very talented group of people working tirelessly behind the scenes and to Keith Loring, an outstanding Chief Executive.
Most of all, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to Chris Grant. In just under twelve months he has accomplished a remarkable amount and has worked long hours without taking a penny from the club. He had some early flak from misguided quarters but is an extraordinary asset to Derbyshire cricket.
We are extremely fortunate to have him and as a fan I thank him and the behind the scenes team at the County Ground for their outstanding efforts.
