BBC SPORT | Cricket | Morgan to be new ECB chairman

Welshman David Morgan has been nominated to succeed Lord MacLaurin as chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Morgan beat rival Mike Soper by 11 votes to eight in a ballot of members of the First Class Forum (FCF).

Morgan, a former chairman of Glamorgan and current deputy chairman of the ECB, said: "I am delighted to have received the backing of the FCF.

"Mike Soper has clearly gained a significant amount of support.

Morgan's manifesto

To build on the progress of recent years

To extend the central contract system

To win the "affection" of the counties

"It will be important for the Board to embrace some of his ideas, especially about the further popularisation of cricket.

"If my nomination is endorsed, I look forward to working with Mike and others to build on the very positive foundations for the game that have been laid by Lord MacLaurin."

Morgan's nomination will now be submitted for ratification at a meeting of all 39 members of the ECB - 18 first-class counties, 20 minor counties and the MCC - early next month.

Lord MacLaurin decided to step down after six years because of business commitments.

During his tenure, a number of important initiatives were introduced.

Lord MacLaurin
MacLaurin has helped revive English cricket

They included central contracts for England players, the establishment of a National Academy and two divisions in the County Championship and one-day league.

Morgan, who will serve a two-year period as chairman from 1 January next year, wants to improve the relationship between the various county clubs and officials at Lord's.

He told BBC Sport: "It's very important that ECB wins the affection of its constituents, the first-class and minor counties.

"I don't think we're half as well respected as we are in government circles and internationally."

Soper said he had no regrets about standing.

'Immense passion'

"I believe that I have been able to highlight some of the real concerns and challenges facing cricket in the coming years.

"If I have been able to bring forward the immense passion I have for the game, then I have achieved what I wanted to," he commented.

"We need to act quickly and decisively if we are to preserve and build on all the things which are good in the game."

Morgan will take on office on 1 January provided his nomination is upheld by the 39 members of the ECB.


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