Clarke appears to have won after weeks of canvassing support

The Somerset chairman succeeds David Morgan, who is taking over as president of the International Cricket Council.

Clarke, 53, and current ECB deputy chairman Soper tied in the first ballot, sharing nine votes apiece.

"We must have proper leadership at all levels, improve finances and have a successful national side," said Clarke.

Interview: Giles Clarke

Former trade union leader Lord Morris had planned to stand against Clarke and Soper to help break the deadlock but withdrew.

Votes were cast by the 18 first-class counties and the MCC, meaning once again someone chose to abstain.

Clarke will serve until spring 2009 if his nomination is approved by the full membership of the ECB on 10 October.

We need more of the money to filter down to both county and recreational cricket Giles Clarke

Soper, who had been favourite to win the first vote, has quit as deputy-chairman, a post he occupied for five years.

Since the first vote, Clarke, head of the ECB marketing committee, has sealed a substantial new five-year television deal with ESPN Star Sports to allow it to show English cricket in south Asia.

That agreement will bring extra money into the domestic game, something county chairmen will have looked upon favourably after the wettest of summers.

606: DEBATE What do you think about Giles Clarke?

Clarke told BBC Sport: "We need more of the money - and the Asian deal will bring us �40m - to filter down to both country and recreational cricket.

"We are spending a lot already on the England national side and on the management of the game, so we can focus on funds for better facilities, better grounds for spectators for the first-class and international game.

"For the recreational game, it's a chance to improve their facilities - their nets, or pitches or the like."

Clarke also revealed his thoughts on a series of the biggest issues in cricket:

He will not look into central contracts: "I believe in them for the players, they're very important."

He supports Twenty20, but not at the expense of other formats: "We'll play a bit more, but the mix is right."

He wants more night matches: "Floodlit games are a very attractive way of watching cricket."

He wants supporters to be put first: "Cricket must understand what fans want and when they want it."

Entrepreneur Clarke also negotiated the controversial �220m deal which sold rights to televise cricket in England away from terrestrial television to BSkyB in 2005.

But he added: "If terrestrial cricket is prepared to bid for rights, which I very much hope they will do this time, that would be good news for the game."

Meanwhile, Soper, who also lost out to Lord MacLaurin in 1997, has admitted he made mistakes in the run-up to the first ballot.

Clarke has never been afraid to voice unpopular opinions or tackle controversial issues BBC sports editor Mihir Bose

"I should have been more proactive and told people about my record in business, what I did at Surrey and my views on all the big issues in cricket."

BBC sports editor Mihir Bose added: "Although a visit to India at an early age proved that he couldn't handle the spices, Clarke gets on very well with the Indian powerhouses of cricket and wants to cultivate better relations with the subcontinent.

"After England's triumph in the Ashes of 2005 he caused controversy by saying that England needed bigger cricket stadiums.

"He has never been afraid to voice unpopular opinions or tackle controversial issues.

"He masterminded the current Sky Television deal but has said he would like to see cricket back on terrestrial television and expressed regret that the BBC did not even bid for the home Test highlights.