The AGM.
One or two reflections on the AGM before I toddle off on holiday.
A good turnout of members. Great to see that, despite the greed, arrogance and incompetence infecting many power-brokers in world and English cricket, a simple love of cricket survives in many people. That love, hopefully, will continue to flow from generation to generation whichever nincompoops get involved in the running of the sport.
When the result of the committee ballot was given the numbers of votes cast for each candidate was not supplied. Kim Jones and those who supported his bid to get on committee were entitled to know how close he got to making it. I called Warwickshire at 8.45am today to ask for the numbers but nobody has got back to me.
There was a lot of positivity at the meeting. The officers of the club were quite perky about its improved finances but, while obviously welcoming that upturn, for many members I think the bottom line is what happens on the field and, in that respect, things look quite promising at the moment.
In terms of competence and conduct, Ashley Giles is a breath of fresh air after Mark Greatbatch. But then, to be fair, Oz out of 'Auf Wiedersehen Pet' would have been.
The speeches on the club's finances and the pavilion redevelopment were detailed and useful but I think an explanation of why Warwickshire backed Giles Clarke in the recent election for ECB chairman would have been appropriate. If I was a Bears member I would have been livid at my club blithely backing that afore-mentioned nincompoop without consulting the rank and file, the opinion of every one of whom is just as valuable as the opinion of Neil Houghton or any other member of the committee.
I believe that, while the treasurer was addressing the meeting, Mr J.Troughton esq. sent a text, or maybe received one. Poor concentration, that, from the left-hander - though I must admit that during Mr Mills eloquently-put but rather familiar messages I found myself jotting down a list of things that it is very painful to do when you have a badly bruised thumb.
Squeezing tubes (toothpaste, tomato puree, etc), doing up buttons and picking up peg-bags were among them.
Finally - parking. Not a murmur at the meeting. Having imposed charges and the associated inconvenience of ticket-validation, the Bears have ridden out the squall and sail serenely on, harvesting the dosh.
No questions about parking at the AGM? Just wasn't the same...
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Brian Halford - Brian Halford’s look at Edgbaston.
Auf Wiedersehen Pet was over-rated. I preferred Boon.
Shame we did not get the votes read out or a thanks to all who stood.
Why weren't the votes read out?
Very easy to poke fun at those who pushed the car park issue when you’ve got a nice shiny free press pass on your dashboard isn’t it?
The new car parking regime was bought in after zero consultation with those who used it.
A car parking pass under the old regime cost a member attending all cricket at Edgbaston around £1.70 a day.
The new prices effectively hiked that by 300%. Unfortunately that decision, like cut-price memberships for Ashes ticket scalpers
is all too symptomatic of Povey’s reign of incompetence at Edgbaston.
It’s a pity you and your erstwhile colleague can’t do more than rehash sarcastic barbs at long-suffering customers of the club.
No wonder your paper sells fewer copies than the Big Issue.
Although personally I find it very useful. Soft strong and very absorbent.
Hi Member Ex. Thank you for your comments.
The last thing I was seeking to do was "poke fun at those who pushed the car park issue".
The point I was trying to make is that Warwickshire have done what big organisations, notably governments, often do and that is put in place a highly unpopular policy then take the flak in the knowledge that it will inevitably subside as time passes and most people come to grudgingly adapt to the change.
An example that springs to mind is the outrageous butchery of this country's Post Office network. When our local post office closed everybody - customers, traders, councillors, the MP - protested during the sham that was laughably labelled a "consultation period". It closed anyway, which was very sad, and then what could we do but use other post offices?
Big organisations take liberties. Not very edifying but sadly true.
Wonder what they will charge for the new multistorey when stadium is built. (Sorry if new stadium is built)
Talking of Big Issues, one very big one is whether the changes to parking, the shop and catering have resulted in more money. Sadly they havent. For example, the annual report note and increase in retail sales. Well there was one - of 900 quid.
To just 275,000 quid less than the shop sold in 2004.
No wonder. The shop at Edgbaston is rubbish. Its about as well-stocked as a Romanian grocer's, pre-Iron Curtain.
It doesnt smell so much of vomit - like it did all through 2007 - anymore. Buta gree about stock. There's just no reason to go in there whatever age you are.