St. David's to end Counties boycott?

The bitter row involving the Eastern Counties Cricket Association (ECCA) and St. David’s County Cricket Club could be resolved in the near future.

Harold Millett, ECCA president, said his association is scheduled to meet with executives from the four respective counties clubs as early as this month.

And it is hoped that the ongoing impasse between the ECCA and St. David’s over a host of issues will finally be broken during the meeting.

Millet said: “I can’t elaborate at this time as this is still a delicate matter. But all parties are working towards a solution for the better interest of the game, and I feel we are knocking on the door to resolving this matter.”

Disgruntled

A defiant St. David’s relinquished their Eastern Counties crown and boycotted last summer’s competition in protest of a controversial vote to have the annual series played at Sea Breeze Oval and not Lords as well as for a number of outstanding differences with the ECCA.

Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club gave up the right to host the cricket spectacle in 2009 due to upgrades being made to their facility at the time, prompting speculation that the competition would remain at Lords the following year in accordance to the year about agreement.

St. David’s became disgruntled after a vote was taking allowing Bay to host the event because they could not in 2009.

St. David’s took matters into their own hands and boycotted the Eastern Counties in 2010.

It was tough stance that was met with “mixed reaction” in the tightly-knitted, cricket-mad St. David’s community.

Like ECCA chief Millett, St. David’s president Aaron Lugo is optimistic that an amicable resolution between both parties can be achieved.

He said: “Hopefully in the near future there will be a resolution and I think everyone is anticipating this. Nothing has been signed at this stage, but we do meet (with the ECCA) on a regular basis and I can’t wait to get a solution so we can continue with the series.”

Positive

Lugo said staging last year’s series at Sea Breeze Oval was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

He added: “Right up until the last minute it was both fields and then it came down to a vote that went Bay’s way. My question is why was it even a vote because we felt it was our turn to host the series.

“But that’s the past and I really don’t want to dwell on it because a lot of things have been said back and forth — and a lot of disrespectful things at that to be honest.

“We never intended for anybody’s feelings to be hurt or people to be disrespected, we just want the series to be positive and the ECCA to be run more smoothly.

“We are one of the members of the governing body and just feel that everyone needs to have an equal voice and we hope that after this controversy we can move forward and everyone can be on the same page.”

As for the venue for this year’s Eastern Counties series, association president Millett said: “We haven’t done anything on that yet because everything hinges on everyone being co-operative.”

Cleveland County Cricket Club (CCCC) are the current Eastern Counties cup holders.