Durham future is healthy - David Harker

Harker is bullish about Durham's future in a financial sense

Durham chief executive David Harker remains positive about the club's financial situation after announcing year profits of near £200,000.

While Durham have a working debt of £3.5m, Harker is adamant that deals with companies and future international games make it manageable.

"It's a relatively small sum," Harker told BBC Newcastle of the debt.

"The debt isn't a concern, the concern is the extend to which we can make returns from international matches."

Harker is also keen to stress the impact that can be felt by an absence of England Test cricket at domestic grounds on a club's finances.

One of the things we have to be clear about looking at profit and loss as Test match grounds is the cycle of international cricket rather than one year in isolation

Durham chief executive David Harker

Durham hosted a West Indies Test last year which helped generate extra revenue and the Durham chief says future events at the Riverside put their current position into perspective.

"Profits are hard to come by in the current economic climate, but one of the things we have to be clear about looking at profit and loss as Test match grounds is the cycle of international cricket rather than one year in isolation," Harker added.

"So dependent are we on receipts on some of the big matches, if you compare this year to say 2013 when we have an Ashes Test, you wouldn't get a true feeling of the underlying strength of the club."

Durham retained the County Championship in 2009 and are currently mounting a bid for a hat-trick of titles this season.