Dowling 'optimistic' Rangers will play in Counties

Western Counties Cricket Association (WCCA) is scheduled to meet with Southampton Rangers this week in the hope of resolving an ongoing row between the two parties.

The Bermuda Sun revealed last Friday that Rangers strongly oppose having this summer’s Western Counties competition held at Somerset Cricket Club and haven’t ruled out boycotting the event in protest.

“We may have to look elsewhere to provide good entertainment for our fans and other fans on that day. Something is on the cards,” declared Rangers’ president Randy Raynor, who also hasn’t ruled out seeking legal advice on the matter.

Yet despite Rangers’ disapproval WCCA president Gary Dowling is optimistic both parties can settle their differences during the upcoming meeting.

Keen

“Everything has a resolution and I am optimistic this matter will be resolved,” he said.

Rangers voted against staging this year’s competition in Somerset on the grounds that to do so would be “unconstitutional”.

And it is understood they are now seeking further clarification on an alleged clause in the WCCA’s constitution permitting the association to make changes for the betterment of the game.

Meanwhile, Dowling recently met with Somerset Cricket Club officials who he said are very keen to host the annual competition involving Somerset Bridge, Warwick, Rangers, Willow Cuts and cup holders PHC.

“Somerset were very receptive and are looking forward to hosting the competition. Everything is looking straight and its all systems go for June 18th.”

June 18th will see PHC open their title defence against Warwick at Somerset Cricket Club, which has hosted Western Counties matches in the past.

Dowling believes that staging this year’s series at the west end facility will help raise the standard of play and encourage more spectators to attend matches.

“Hopefully we can put some of the excitement back into the game and get some of the fans that having been showing up to the games and go from there,” he said.

Backwards

“We are just trying to enhance the competition because we are almost at death’s door and are very fortunate to have Ironshore sponsoring us.

“Our game has gone backwards with the standard of play and the amount of people that come out to support the games.”

As cup holders, Dowling said playing this year’s competition at PHC’s Warwick venue would have been a breath of fresh air.

“We were hoping that by this time PHC would’ve had some sort of facility so that we could play there. That would’ve been a nice change because we have had the game at Rangers for the past few years.”

Dowling assured those clubs who have raised concerns over their players’ safety during this year’s Western Counties matches at Somerset that robust security measures will be in place.

“All of that has been addressed,” he insisted. “We will have security people and they (Somerset) will also have security people while police will also be present to ensure safety.”