Cricket club development on hold

How the St Lawrence ground entrance may look in the future

Plans to revamp Kent County Cricket Club's ground have been put on hold after a developer pulled out because of financial problems.

The Canterbury club has planning permission for a hotel, conference centre, museum and hospitality boxes.

The £7m scheme would be financed by selling land behind the pavilion for houses but an offer has fallen through.

"We have no option but to pull the whole thing and wait until conditions improve," said chairman George Kennedy.

"The people who tendered for the ground came up with a price but when the time came to put the money up they simply didn't have it."

The delay will add to the club's financial problems, and Mr Kennedy said its results for the year ending October 2008 would be "very disappointing".

Cash flow

But he said it would not accept a lower offer for the land at the St Lawrence Ground.

"There is no point in selling the family silver cheaply," he said.

"The committee is adamant that the price is the price.

"The problem right now is the immediate cash flow as the money is not coming in as we expected."

The club is seeking new offers for the bat and ball site and the net site and said several companies were interested.

"If the right offer comes along there is no reason why we wouldn't go ahead in the spring but I can't guarantee that," said Mr Kennedy.

He said the club would have to reduce spending in the coming year, although most of the players are under contract and the squad would be largely the same as last season.

"Part of me is hugely embarrassed by being in the Second Division for the first time in the club's history," he said.

"But on the other hand we are in fairly good company and our local derbies will be intact."

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