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Cricket and football look set to get $1 million to improve their facilities as a result of the recommendation of the Clubs Report.

And that's just for next year. If Sports Minister Dale Butler and Clubs Report chairman Rolfe Commissiong have their way, government will make a standing pledge to help them over the next few years.

But the clubs will have to ensure that their financial books are in good order and that they have regular elections.

Commissiong gave an update on the Clubs Report last Saturday at the Mini Sports Conference. He said that 15 of the 20 cricket and football clubs initially took part in a survey, but since the report was finished, another three clubs have come on board.

The chairman added that it was recommended that the $1 million be a "down payment' and that the government funding would not be limited to "one or two years" as the clubs had a lot of catching up to bring them up to scratch.

Minister Butler is expected to present the Report to Cabinet over the next few weeks, and if it gains approval, bring the Report to the clubs.

He said plans are in the works to hold meetings at St. George's Cricket Club, BAA and Southampton Rangers to help get everyone behind it.

He said if both the clubs agree and Parliament passes it, there will be a board of governors to "ensure that the funds are allocated in accordance with the Report."

Minister Butler added there shouldn't be any financial hanky-panky as the "any bids are vetted and any payments are made directly to the vendors and the construction people providing the service," rather than paying the club to pay the contractor. Minister Butler said Commissiong and two of the other committee members will serve on the first board of governors as they are already familiar with what the needs are at the specific clubs.

He said there were a wide variety of needs that will be met as some clubs top priority would be new changing rooms, while others requested synthetic surfaces and still others wanted computers.

"Some clubs might need $200,000, but $10,000 might be for fencing and $5,000 might be for security," Minister Butler said. "Some of these clubs have really been neglected."

He added that there have been several reports on violence at the clubs and in those reports, there were recommendations for video cameras, but there was no money provided for the clubs to upgrade their security.

That will change with this programme.

He said not everything can get accomplished in the first year and that is why it is hoped that the funding will continue beyond the $1 million in the first year.

"Prior to this Report, there was a piecemeal approach, but now there is a pragmatic approach based on the findings of the committee," Minister Butler said. "We're hoping that it will continue to be funded through the budgetary process."

"The money is there so they don't even have to wait until April to get the money, because the money is there. The Government has already demonstrated its good faith in ensuring that it gets started. We don't have the $20 million that probably would have done it all, but we'll have to continue."[[In-content Ad]]

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