Worcestershire County Cricket Club “wants to stay on the pitch”

Worcestershire’s board wants to stay at the New Road ground, which was hit by eight floods this winter, the cricket club’s chief executive says.

Ashley Giles said the board was waiting for a report examining “potential options for remediation and flood protection” to allow them to remain there.

Since Worcestershire confirmed in April that they were willing to make a move, concerns have been raised about the club’s future.

Mr Giles reiterated that the board believes it is its responsibility “to also consider what alternative options might be available if at some point we are forced to leave New Road”.

In his statement, read out at a county council meeting by Adam Kent, Cabinet Member for Business and Skills, the Chief Executive said Worcestershire faced significant concerns about its sustainability.

The reason for this was the “increasing frequency and regularity” of the floods and these “floods have had a serious impact on our cricket operations, business and revenues and pose a serious threat to the future of the club”.

These problems pose a threat to “the long-term viability of the club, not just the stadium,” Mr Giles added.

He said the board was waiting for a report that would “provide an evidence-based assessment of the current situation and go beyond emotional reactions.”

A move away from New Road would not be “the preferred option for anyone involved with the club,” Mr Giles added.

However, he said: “Given the deteriorating situation and the club’s location in a flood plain, it would be reasonable to assume that the board and management would not be carrying out their duties responsibly if they did not consider these options.”

Mr Giles said Worcestershire would use the report’s findings to inform future decisions and strategies.