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Wednesday, 28 August, 2002, 10:06 GMT 11:06 UK
Air of calm before crisis meeting
BBC Sport's Kevin Howells

There is plenty of speculation that Yorkshire's emergency general meeting this week could take the club into bankruptcy.

But all the signals from Headingley suggest that shouldn't happen.

Thursday morning at 10am is not a time to bring out a large number of people.

So the proxy vote will be the key factor to whether or not Yorkshire County Cricket club have been given the backing of its 8,500 members to double their overdraft from �5m to �10m.


To move away from Headingley is something some consider a real alternative
New chief executive, Colin Graves told me he also considers the vote as an indication of whether they back the new management structure to pull the club around.

A humiliating year so far has seen the bank order Yorkshire to sort themselves out or face the consequences.

Graves' first priority was the sale of Test match tickets last week, but he has also had to set quickly about crucial talks with the ground's landlord Paul Caddick at whom much suspicion is aimed by YCCC members.

New Yorkshire chief executive Colin Graves
Graves is confident that common sense will prevail
Only those who are angered by the perception that the landlord bleeds Yorkshire dry of much-needed profits during Test matches would consider voting against the motion to double the borrowing limit.

To move away from Headingley, and just worry about running the club, is something some consider a real alternative to the recent years of strife and fighting over who gets what from the bigger matches.

I understand the number of 'want away' fans is small.

Several awkward questions will be faced at the E.G.M. but the new management are likely to be allowed to get on with reviewing the business structure of the club.

It won't all be plain sailing. We must remember that two thirds of those who vote must accept the motion.

But common sense will prevail according to Graves, who said that over the five days of the Test match only two people came up to him to voice their upset at the direction the club had taken.

Blakey worry

One area I am sure will be tackled at the meeting is how many players, and particularly the younger ones, will be told to leave due to cutbacks.

Veteran wicketkeeper Richard Blakey
Skipper Blakey's position is under threat
The answer may be vague as Graves is yet to sit down properly and draw up the new business plan.

But he and new chairman Geoff Cope are both saying they want to retain a squad capable of winning trophies.

Some speculation surrounds the current captain and wicketkeeper, Richard Blakey who at 35 years of age finds his current contract running out this autumn.

Reserve keeper Simon Guy is understandably frustrated by not playing first-team cricket and how much pressure he puts on the club to promote him or lose him is open to consideration.

Where that leaves Blakey is anyone's guess.


Yorkshire Uncovered can be heard on Thursdays on BBC Radio Five Live's Ian Payne Show (7.00-10.00pm). Next instalment: 29 August.

Kevin Howells goes behind the scenes with the county champions

The 2002 season

YORKSHIRE SECTION
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