For the last couple of weeks or so I have had a good few texts and e mails suggesting that Don Amott was leaving the club committee. With nothing emanating from the club it seemed inappropriate to start a hare around the park, especially while cricket was still being played.
Like most of you I was shocked and disappointed when the news of his resignation as Chairman broke last Spring, at a time when we were all looking forward to a new season. Maybe it wouldn't have been a close season without some form of blood-letting at the club, something that was all too familiar to those of us who have followed their fortunes over any reasonable period.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of what went on - and in such cases there are usually faults on both sides - the club has moved on and Chris Grant has done a sterling job since taking over the reins. No doubt he would have wished for an easier baptism and would have been happy to be a committee member for some time before logically taking over down the line, but life is like that.
Realistically, although he later changed his mind and retained his place on the committee, few could have seen Don Amott as a peripheral figure in the club in the long term, having been an outstanding figurehead for a number of years. Under him a lot of ground improvements took place and the club became more streamlined financially. Cricket returned to Chesterfield and fans were reassured that the man with his hand on the tiller was himself a big fan and someone who knew business.
Health problems for both himself and his wife were a setback and this is probably the right time for Don to make a break from the club. He still runs a successful business and probably owes his family more time. That he has asked for the repayment on existing loans suggests that all is not sweetness and light and I would doubt he will return to any day to day involvement in the club, but any suggestions that this will be a problem for the club are wide of the mark.
Chris Grant has said that the loan can be repaid from cash flow, which is encouraging, while the club's increasing profile in corporate circles, not least due to Chris Grant's own contacts, suggests that new sponsorship deals for shirts, boundary boards and initiatives will not be lacking. Perhaps we may see Peter Gadsby involved to a greater extent and the club will not fold, despite what some might say to the contrary. Grant is himself a businessman of brilliance, as one would have to be to make the money he has at such a young age.
Indeed, this year's finances should show a fairly robust operation, which under the new chairman should go from strength to strength. I am sure that will be the case, but I am equally sure that everyone involved in Derbyshire cricket will acknowledge that we owe Don Amott a sincere debt of gratitude.
I hope that he enjoys a long and happy retirement and we will at some point see him on the boundary edge once more.
Showing posts with label Don Amott. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Don Amott. Show all posts
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Time to move on
Enlightenment rather than recrimination were apposite words used at the end of Mark Eklid’s account of last night’s AGM at the cricket club and this is the right time to reflect and to move on.
The threatened rebellion of the membership came to nothing as only one man spoke up. All those commenting about last night below the previous article and all of last week on IMWT had their chance to say something and did nothing. If something or someone bothers you – as the comments below suggest – the time and place to do something about it was last night. Sitting in front of a computer and moaning will change nothing, if change is what you want, while any issues with one person are always going to be there if the individual concerned is always elected unopposed. If you’re unhappy about things – and importantly think you can do better, then stand for election next year.
Anyway, now is the time for such talk to be consigned to history and for everyone to unite behind a new young chairman ahead of the season. The rights and wrongs of the past week or so will doubtless be debated for some time, but while it was poorly handled it is time to move on. In such situations there are often faults on both sides and for what it is worth I feel that the end result is as good as the county could have hoped for.
My final words on recent events are these. I have no issue with the committee whatsoever, as long as they allow talented employees – namely Keith Loring and John Morris - the opportunity to do their jobs unhindered. Maybe there has been some confusion along the way and that was always the intention, but a quick response to the Derby Telegraph’s interview with Don Amott could have defused the situation much more quickly than has been the case.
I am also a believer in the Chairman calling the shots and the committee AS A WHOLE reporting to him. There should be no sub-committees, as in such circumstances do allegations of subterfuge start to germinate. In my experience of over twenty years in committees, they work best when 100% transparent.
I am especially encouraged by the words of Chris Grant after his meteoric rise to Chairman. As I wrote last week, he was the standout candidate to replace Don Amott, himself thankfully restored to the committee, and is already saying things that should reassure those, including myself, who had concerns about the club’s future direction. Discussions are underway about an extension to the contracts of both Keith Loring and John Morris which is encouraging to hear. Regular readers will know that I am a great admirer of the work of both men and Keith Loring should ideally head our commercial direction for a long time to come.
As I wrote last week, some may feel we should wait to the end of the season before offering a new deal to John Morris. After all, last season was far from a success, although the team was somewhat hamstrung by the loss of almost all the seam bowlers. Steffan Jones and Tim Groenewald effectively carried that area last year, the former playing far more than was probably planned, given his coaching commitments.
I feel that Morris should now be given an extension to his contract and thereby secure a consistency of approach for the foreseeable future. He has worked tirelessly in his time at the club with a constantly evolving side and works under the handicap of knowing that it is almost always going to be that way. Morris has said that he can ‘sell opportunity’ at Derbyshire but simply doesn’t have the resources to hang on to players who make the most of such opportunity and are courted by other clubs. As the age of one-club men has long gone, more affluent suitors (if there are any in modern county cricket) will always be able to offer more than we can afford.
Morris presented a five-year plan to the committee, based on the work he is doing, the work in the Academy and the considerable scouting that goes on around the local leagues. Anyone who looks at the current Derbyshire squad will realise that it is a young one and now needs time to develop. Young players like Borrington, Redfern, Hughes, Needham, Clare, Whiteley, Sheikh, Knight, Slater and Poynton could easily emerge as county cricketers of talent, especially now we have a structure in place below the first team squad, with Andrew Harris set to work with the young players as they leave Karl Krikken’s ‘nest.’ They will all progress at different paces of course and some may fall by the wayside, but it is a long time since we have had a clutch of young players of that potential. It would be stupid to rock the boat and adversely impact on their development by bringing in someone new, while the likelihood of their being given earlier opportunity is advanced by the Head of Cricket having greater job security than the six months that it is at present.
We need to remember that most of these lads are under 23 and nowhere even close to their peak. Players like Paul Borrington and Dan Redfern seem to have been around for years, yet are still only 22 and 20 respectively. Likewise I read of this being a crucial season for Jake Needham, and the off-spinner is only 24.
It is spinners I feel especially sorry for with the ECB age incentive payments, as it is widely recognised that they don’t reach their peak until their thirties. Look at the best spinners in the country over the past few years – Robert Croft, Shaun Udal and Graeme Swann. All reached their peak after their thirtieth birthday. It is unrealistic to expect the craft to be mastered earlier, but the pre-season signs are that Jake is coming along pretty well.
So from me it is no more moans and time to look forward to a new season. Along the way we will have our share of bad days – it wouldn’t be a Derbyshire cricket season without them – but we’ll enjoy the good ones all the more because of that and I hope that everyone will now get behind the lads and hope for the best – starting next week!
The threatened rebellion of the membership came to nothing as only one man spoke up. All those commenting about last night below the previous article and all of last week on IMWT had their chance to say something and did nothing. If something or someone bothers you – as the comments below suggest – the time and place to do something about it was last night. Sitting in front of a computer and moaning will change nothing, if change is what you want, while any issues with one person are always going to be there if the individual concerned is always elected unopposed. If you’re unhappy about things – and importantly think you can do better, then stand for election next year.
Anyway, now is the time for such talk to be consigned to history and for everyone to unite behind a new young chairman ahead of the season. The rights and wrongs of the past week or so will doubtless be debated for some time, but while it was poorly handled it is time to move on. In such situations there are often faults on both sides and for what it is worth I feel that the end result is as good as the county could have hoped for.
My final words on recent events are these. I have no issue with the committee whatsoever, as long as they allow talented employees – namely Keith Loring and John Morris - the opportunity to do their jobs unhindered. Maybe there has been some confusion along the way and that was always the intention, but a quick response to the Derby Telegraph’s interview with Don Amott could have defused the situation much more quickly than has been the case.
I am also a believer in the Chairman calling the shots and the committee AS A WHOLE reporting to him. There should be no sub-committees, as in such circumstances do allegations of subterfuge start to germinate. In my experience of over twenty years in committees, they work best when 100% transparent.
I am especially encouraged by the words of Chris Grant after his meteoric rise to Chairman. As I wrote last week, he was the standout candidate to replace Don Amott, himself thankfully restored to the committee, and is already saying things that should reassure those, including myself, who had concerns about the club’s future direction. Discussions are underway about an extension to the contracts of both Keith Loring and John Morris which is encouraging to hear. Regular readers will know that I am a great admirer of the work of both men and Keith Loring should ideally head our commercial direction for a long time to come.
As I wrote last week, some may feel we should wait to the end of the season before offering a new deal to John Morris. After all, last season was far from a success, although the team was somewhat hamstrung by the loss of almost all the seam bowlers. Steffan Jones and Tim Groenewald effectively carried that area last year, the former playing far more than was probably planned, given his coaching commitments.
I feel that Morris should now be given an extension to his contract and thereby secure a consistency of approach for the foreseeable future. He has worked tirelessly in his time at the club with a constantly evolving side and works under the handicap of knowing that it is almost always going to be that way. Morris has said that he can ‘sell opportunity’ at Derbyshire but simply doesn’t have the resources to hang on to players who make the most of such opportunity and are courted by other clubs. As the age of one-club men has long gone, more affluent suitors (if there are any in modern county cricket) will always be able to offer more than we can afford.
Morris presented a five-year plan to the committee, based on the work he is doing, the work in the Academy and the considerable scouting that goes on around the local leagues. Anyone who looks at the current Derbyshire squad will realise that it is a young one and now needs time to develop. Young players like Borrington, Redfern, Hughes, Needham, Clare, Whiteley, Sheikh, Knight, Slater and Poynton could easily emerge as county cricketers of talent, especially now we have a structure in place below the first team squad, with Andrew Harris set to work with the young players as they leave Karl Krikken’s ‘nest.’ They will all progress at different paces of course and some may fall by the wayside, but it is a long time since we have had a clutch of young players of that potential. It would be stupid to rock the boat and adversely impact on their development by bringing in someone new, while the likelihood of their being given earlier opportunity is advanced by the Head of Cricket having greater job security than the six months that it is at present.
We need to remember that most of these lads are under 23 and nowhere even close to their peak. Players like Paul Borrington and Dan Redfern seem to have been around for years, yet are still only 22 and 20 respectively. Likewise I read of this being a crucial season for Jake Needham, and the off-spinner is only 24.
It is spinners I feel especially sorry for with the ECB age incentive payments, as it is widely recognised that they don’t reach their peak until their thirties. Look at the best spinners in the country over the past few years – Robert Croft, Shaun Udal and Graeme Swann. All reached their peak after their thirtieth birthday. It is unrealistic to expect the craft to be mastered earlier, but the pre-season signs are that Jake is coming along pretty well.
So from me it is no more moans and time to look forward to a new season. Along the way we will have our share of bad days – it wouldn’t be a Derbyshire cricket season without them – but we’ll enjoy the good ones all the more because of that and I hope that everyone will now get behind the lads and hope for the best – starting next week!
Friday, 25 March 2011
Final thoughts on a dire week
What happened in Derbyshire cricket this week daddy? We started it with a place in a T20 final in Barbados son, and then it went down hill from there.
There still appears to be massive confusion about what is happening with regard to the imminent elections and the club should really be making a statement sometime soon. As far as I’m concerned the elections are well and truly screwed and with the depth of feeling that I’m seeing in e mails, on IMWT and in the poll I would not be at all surprised if a vote of no confidence in the committee was proposed at the AGM. That it would lead to a period of uncertainty is likely, but at least one of those concerned has seen this sort of thing before. Read IMWT’s link to the Amott departure and see what I mean…
This, of course, is dependent on people being brave enough to say what they’re doing on a computer in front of a meeting. Its not courage in the real sense, the Helmland province sense if you will, but some find it hard to do that kind of thing and what happens from here is dependent on people being willing to do so.
If you’re a regular reader of this site you’ll know that I am a supporter of the club and as such will defend it where at all possible, but I’m finding that very difficult in the light of recent events. I have always tried to be even-handed in criticism and constructive where at all possible, but I’ll tell you areas where I have major issues with recent events and where the actions of those involved have given me serious cause for concern:
1 We’ve heard Don’s story but we’ve still not heard a peep from the three villains of the piece to say that he got it all wrong. Why is this? Quite likely because he didn’t.
2 If there is any truth whatsoever that committee members wanted a say in team selection, they should go. Quite simply it has nothing to do with them. We pay someone to do that and any variant will take us back to the days when England teams were picked by panels who had poor knowledge and were too parochial. There's not a coach worthy of the name would take that - would you?
3 For me, the actions of the tricky trio were an ill-thought, knee-jerk reaction to a situation that really wasn’t there. The two people who mattered – the Chairman and Chief Executive - were in control of last year’s loss, had put procedures in place to reverse it this year and should have been left alone to carry on with what they have thus far done very well.
4 These discussions should have been on a full committee basis, not just what seems to be three conspirators and a chairman. Whether it was a sub-committee or not, this is the impression given and the track record of one of those concerned, as highlighted in recent historical press accounts on IMWT, only fuels that argument.
5 The reality is that any committee should be representative of the views of the membership and should do just that in their actions. If they had a mandate from the membership to address the financial situation that would be a different matter. They didn’t, as there was no vote, so we now have three committee members saying that a second paid employee – the Chief Executive – is effectively wrong in his summation of our financial state.
The Derby Telegraph earlier in the week said
“An emergency committee meeting is to be called soon to gauge reaction to Amott's resignation. After that, the club has to face its members at the AGM on March 30, when there could be some awkward questions to address.”
If the people involved in this scenario hold an emergency meeting and come up with any other conclusion than that the weight of opinion is firmly against them, they are too blinkered to be holding office. Likewise if the membership tolerate their actions and say nowt at the AGM then they deserve everything they get in the future.
If John Morris has presented a five-year plan it suggests he is prepared for a long haul. With Amott as chairman and Loring as Chief Executive we had nothing to worry about. Having lost one, there is a risk that another could feel it is not worth the hassle and the third would be increasingly isolated.
I think there is still an opportunity to persuade Don Amott to return, but a condition of that would almost certainly be that three others, whose actions have been out of order, resign for it to happen. If they cannot see that, in order to flourish in this economic climate, the club needs Amott at the helm far more than it needs them, they are doing a club they purport to support a grave disservice.
There still appears to be massive confusion about what is happening with regard to the imminent elections and the club should really be making a statement sometime soon. As far as I’m concerned the elections are well and truly screwed and with the depth of feeling that I’m seeing in e mails, on IMWT and in the poll I would not be at all surprised if a vote of no confidence in the committee was proposed at the AGM. That it would lead to a period of uncertainty is likely, but at least one of those concerned has seen this sort of thing before. Read IMWT’s link to the Amott departure and see what I mean…
This, of course, is dependent on people being brave enough to say what they’re doing on a computer in front of a meeting. Its not courage in the real sense, the Helmland province sense if you will, but some find it hard to do that kind of thing and what happens from here is dependent on people being willing to do so.
If you’re a regular reader of this site you’ll know that I am a supporter of the club and as such will defend it where at all possible, but I’m finding that very difficult in the light of recent events. I have always tried to be even-handed in criticism and constructive where at all possible, but I’ll tell you areas where I have major issues with recent events and where the actions of those involved have given me serious cause for concern:
1 We’ve heard Don’s story but we’ve still not heard a peep from the three villains of the piece to say that he got it all wrong. Why is this? Quite likely because he didn’t.
2 If there is any truth whatsoever that committee members wanted a say in team selection, they should go. Quite simply it has nothing to do with them. We pay someone to do that and any variant will take us back to the days when England teams were picked by panels who had poor knowledge and were too parochial. There's not a coach worthy of the name would take that - would you?
3 For me, the actions of the tricky trio were an ill-thought, knee-jerk reaction to a situation that really wasn’t there. The two people who mattered – the Chairman and Chief Executive - were in control of last year’s loss, had put procedures in place to reverse it this year and should have been left alone to carry on with what they have thus far done very well.
4 These discussions should have been on a full committee basis, not just what seems to be three conspirators and a chairman. Whether it was a sub-committee or not, this is the impression given and the track record of one of those concerned, as highlighted in recent historical press accounts on IMWT, only fuels that argument.
5 The reality is that any committee should be representative of the views of the membership and should do just that in their actions. If they had a mandate from the membership to address the financial situation that would be a different matter. They didn’t, as there was no vote, so we now have three committee members saying that a second paid employee – the Chief Executive – is effectively wrong in his summation of our financial state.
The Derby Telegraph earlier in the week said
“An emergency committee meeting is to be called soon to gauge reaction to Amott's resignation. After that, the club has to face its members at the AGM on March 30, when there could be some awkward questions to address.”
If the people involved in this scenario hold an emergency meeting and come up with any other conclusion than that the weight of opinion is firmly against them, they are too blinkered to be holding office. Likewise if the membership tolerate their actions and say nowt at the AGM then they deserve everything they get in the future.
If John Morris has presented a five-year plan it suggests he is prepared for a long haul. With Amott as chairman and Loring as Chief Executive we had nothing to worry about. Having lost one, there is a risk that another could feel it is not worth the hassle and the third would be increasingly isolated.
I think there is still an opportunity to persuade Don Amott to return, but a condition of that would almost certainly be that three others, whose actions have been out of order, resign for it to happen. If they cannot see that, in order to flourish in this economic climate, the club needs Amott at the helm far more than it needs them, they are doing a club they purport to support a grave disservice.
Monday, 21 March 2011
Don Amott - update
I've been asked to do an interview about Don Amott's departure tomorrow morning on Radio Derby.
At this stage I know no more than that it will be sometime between 7am and 9am.
If that's too early, I'm sure you can get it later on BBC i player if you're interested!
At this stage I know no more than that it will be sometime between 7am and 9am.
If that's too early, I'm sure you can get it later on BBC i player if you're interested!
Don Amott - an appreciation
I think there is a natural assumption for people, aware of the track record Derbyshire cricket has for discord, strife and Macchiavellian intrigue behind the scenes, to put two and two together and come up with five, six or even seven in the light of Don Amott's resignation as Chairman of the club.
Some are sure to see this as being the result of another power struggle beind the scenes. It could be, of course, and I know no more than anyone else about the machinations at committee level. My best guess is that Don has decided it is time to step aside for personal reasons - neither he nor his wife have enjoyed the best of health in recent months - or that he has stepped aside to allow Chris Grant free rein as heir apparent to the role.
Mr Grant has come into the club and paid for Tom Poynton to go to Australia this winter and contributed half of the cost for the current Barbados trip. I'll be honest, if I had the money and was asked to put money into a club I would want to do so from a position of strength within that organisation where I was best placed to influence affairs on and off pitch. Maybe that is a condition of Mr Grant's continued involvement - maybe Don Amott has stepped aside to allow him a free run at the role, rather than seeing divided loyalties compromise a vote at the forthcoming committee elections.
As I say, I don't know. But what I do know is that Derbyshire cricket owes a huge debt of gratitude to Don Amott. He has provided genuine leadership since 2005 and has always been a man of great dignity and affability. He has always had time to speak to people, has been approachable at all times and has been a steady hand on the tiller. There is no coincidence that Derbyshire's improved financial position in recent seasons has coincided with Amott's tenure, allied to Keith Loring coming in as Chief Executive.
His financial acumen is there for all to see, having built up a nationally known business with its heartbeat within the county. His friendship with John Morris is well known and some will now start rumours of changes at that level too. I'm not so sure. Morris' contract is up at the end of the season and whoever takes over from Don Amott would be silly to do anything before then. The signs are that Morris has again recruited soundly this winter in difficult times and the club may enjoy an improved summer. September will be the time to judge that and to judge John Morris, not before.
As for Don Amott, there is no question that he has been a massive asset to Derbyshire cricket. Whatever the reasons behind his departure, the club are sure to miss him immensely. On behalf of all fans of the county, I'd like to say a big thank you to him for his efforts and hope that we still see him on a regular basis at the County Ground, Chesterfield and beyond.
Some are sure to see this as being the result of another power struggle beind the scenes. It could be, of course, and I know no more than anyone else about the machinations at committee level. My best guess is that Don has decided it is time to step aside for personal reasons - neither he nor his wife have enjoyed the best of health in recent months - or that he has stepped aside to allow Chris Grant free rein as heir apparent to the role.
Mr Grant has come into the club and paid for Tom Poynton to go to Australia this winter and contributed half of the cost for the current Barbados trip. I'll be honest, if I had the money and was asked to put money into a club I would want to do so from a position of strength within that organisation where I was best placed to influence affairs on and off pitch. Maybe that is a condition of Mr Grant's continued involvement - maybe Don Amott has stepped aside to allow him a free run at the role, rather than seeing divided loyalties compromise a vote at the forthcoming committee elections.
As I say, I don't know. But what I do know is that Derbyshire cricket owes a huge debt of gratitude to Don Amott. He has provided genuine leadership since 2005 and has always been a man of great dignity and affability. He has always had time to speak to people, has been approachable at all times and has been a steady hand on the tiller. There is no coincidence that Derbyshire's improved financial position in recent seasons has coincided with Amott's tenure, allied to Keith Loring coming in as Chief Executive.
His financial acumen is there for all to see, having built up a nationally known business with its heartbeat within the county. His friendship with John Morris is well known and some will now start rumours of changes at that level too. I'm not so sure. Morris' contract is up at the end of the season and whoever takes over from Don Amott would be silly to do anything before then. The signs are that Morris has again recruited soundly this winter in difficult times and the club may enjoy an improved summer. September will be the time to judge that and to judge John Morris, not before.
As for Don Amott, there is no question that he has been a massive asset to Derbyshire cricket. Whatever the reasons behind his departure, the club are sure to miss him immensely. On behalf of all fans of the county, I'd like to say a big thank you to him for his efforts and hope that we still see him on a regular basis at the County Ground, Chesterfield and beyond.
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Don, John and Bob
There were two especially good pieces of news came from this week's AGM at Derbyshire.
The first was that Don Amott has been voted in as Chairman. The highly successful local businessman has been a huge asset to both Derbyshire cricket and to Derby County over the past few years. He was one of the consortium that restored a degree of sanity at Pride Park when the club looked set to go down the plughole, but his role at the County Ground has been even more valuable.
Besides appearing to be a voice of reason behind the scenes, the Amott era has restored a level of equilibrium to the club that seemed unlikely a few years back. We came to dread the winter months when there'd be the usual in-fighting and blood letting, usually ending with someone resigning in a fit of pique over (usually) playing matters and often the role of Messrs Cork or Barnett in the club.
Don Amott has led the club with great skill, copious amounts of charm and a rare affability. I've met him a couple of times and been impressed by his outgoing personality and his unending courtesy and willingness to talk to people. The latter is essential for such a role and Mr Amott has it and then some. At the same time he has not been afraid to make decisions when required, with the departure of David Houghton mid-season being a fine example of this. Both he and his wife have experienced illness in the past year although both appear on the road to recovery. I'm sure that I'm not alone in wishing them both better health for the future and in thanking Don for his work at the club.
He has sponsored various things throughout his tenure, with the electronic scoreboard being a fine example of his munificence. Then there's been kit sponsorship, match balls and more. The club and its supporters owe him a debt of gratitude and I hope that his involvement in the club continues for many years to come.
The other good news was the election of Bob Taylor as President for two years. "Brilliant Bob" we used to call him, back in the days when one of the highlights (sometimes the only one) of watching Derbyshire was trying to hear any noise from the ball hitting his gloves when he took returns from the outfield. So well did he take the ball that there rarely was. He seemed to suffer less than most keepers from broken fingers and it was an education watching him. I always fancied keeping wicket when I was young and it was all down to watching Bob. Sadly, natural talent was somewhat lacking (although byes were not) in my case so I contented myself with what might have been...
Like Don Amott, Bob was always aware of the role model aspect of being a public figure and he was always happy to talk and sign autographs. Curiously, having said that I never did manage to get his so there's something I need to address if possible in the near future.
With people like Don Amott and Bob Taylor behind the scenes, Derbyshire are as well equipped as any side in the country. I'm also still firmly in the pro-Morris camp for what its worth. His investment in Messrs Clarke and Doshi last season failed to produce anything worthwhile, but he should still be applauded for his work in attracting them here in the first instance. Similarly, selling Derbyshire to Charl Langeveldt and Wavell Hinds was good business, as was appointing Chris Rogers as skipper.
This winter has been relatively quiet, but Morris has put together a sound, youthful squad of talent and promise and his winter recruits have added versatility and talent. I'm convinced the signing of Garry Park will be a masterstroke - why else would Durham have wanted to keep him? Tim Groenewald has more to prove but he may well enjoy life after Edgbaston (who wouldn't...)
As for Stuart Law, we have signed a 40 year old who has played first class cricket for 20 years and averaged over 50 per innings. You cannot argue with those statistics and if he produces some of his best form we're going to enjoy this summer - big time.
The first was that Don Amott has been voted in as Chairman. The highly successful local businessman has been a huge asset to both Derbyshire cricket and to Derby County over the past few years. He was one of the consortium that restored a degree of sanity at Pride Park when the club looked set to go down the plughole, but his role at the County Ground has been even more valuable.
Besides appearing to be a voice of reason behind the scenes, the Amott era has restored a level of equilibrium to the club that seemed unlikely a few years back. We came to dread the winter months when there'd be the usual in-fighting and blood letting, usually ending with someone resigning in a fit of pique over (usually) playing matters and often the role of Messrs Cork or Barnett in the club.
Don Amott has led the club with great skill, copious amounts of charm and a rare affability. I've met him a couple of times and been impressed by his outgoing personality and his unending courtesy and willingness to talk to people. The latter is essential for such a role and Mr Amott has it and then some. At the same time he has not been afraid to make decisions when required, with the departure of David Houghton mid-season being a fine example of this. Both he and his wife have experienced illness in the past year although both appear on the road to recovery. I'm sure that I'm not alone in wishing them both better health for the future and in thanking Don for his work at the club.
He has sponsored various things throughout his tenure, with the electronic scoreboard being a fine example of his munificence. Then there's been kit sponsorship, match balls and more. The club and its supporters owe him a debt of gratitude and I hope that his involvement in the club continues for many years to come.
The other good news was the election of Bob Taylor as President for two years. "Brilliant Bob" we used to call him, back in the days when one of the highlights (sometimes the only one) of watching Derbyshire was trying to hear any noise from the ball hitting his gloves when he took returns from the outfield. So well did he take the ball that there rarely was. He seemed to suffer less than most keepers from broken fingers and it was an education watching him. I always fancied keeping wicket when I was young and it was all down to watching Bob. Sadly, natural talent was somewhat lacking (although byes were not) in my case so I contented myself with what might have been...
Like Don Amott, Bob was always aware of the role model aspect of being a public figure and he was always happy to talk and sign autographs. Curiously, having said that I never did manage to get his so there's something I need to address if possible in the near future.
With people like Don Amott and Bob Taylor behind the scenes, Derbyshire are as well equipped as any side in the country. I'm also still firmly in the pro-Morris camp for what its worth. His investment in Messrs Clarke and Doshi last season failed to produce anything worthwhile, but he should still be applauded for his work in attracting them here in the first instance. Similarly, selling Derbyshire to Charl Langeveldt and Wavell Hinds was good business, as was appointing Chris Rogers as skipper.
This winter has been relatively quiet, but Morris has put together a sound, youthful squad of talent and promise and his winter recruits have added versatility and talent. I'm convinced the signing of Garry Park will be a masterstroke - why else would Durham have wanted to keep him? Tim Groenewald has more to prove but he may well enjoy life after Edgbaston (who wouldn't...)
As for Stuart Law, we have signed a 40 year old who has played first class cricket for 20 years and averaged over 50 per innings. You cannot argue with those statistics and if he produces some of his best form we're going to enjoy this summer - big time.
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