EXCLUSIVE: Middlesex handed £50,000 fine and a suspended points deduction after breaching the ECB’s financial rules
- The ECB investigated Middlesex’s finances last summer
- They believe Middlesex has broken their financial rules
- Middlesex has been handed an extensive range of punishments
Middlesex have been given a suspended points deduction and fined £50,000 for breaching ECB financial rules by diverting money earmarked for youth and grassroots cricket to their professional setup at Lord’s.
Mail Sport has learned that the ECB accused Middlesex of spending beyond their means by shifting some of the central funding they receive for player pathways and recreational play to the first team, with the club accepting a wide range of punishments.
The ECB has been scrutinizing Middlesex’s finances all summer due to the district’s heavy reliance on central funding. Their most recent accounts show that £4.7 million of their £6.6 million income came from the governing body, an extraordinary figure of more than €70 million. per cent.
As a result of this investigation, the ECB is said to have discovered a series of financial irregularities in the club’s accounts dating back several years, although it accepted that these stemmed from poor management rather than an attempt to deliberate cheating.
In a statement released on Monday evening, the ECB confirmed a range of extended sanctions, including suspended points deductions worth one win in the County Championship, the One Day Cup and the T20 Blast suspended until October 2025, a fine of £50,000 with a further £ 100,000 levy suspended for 12 months and the imposition of a business plan is monitored by the governing body.
Middlesex have been fined £50,000 for spending money allocated from their youth and grassroots cricket on their professional setup at Lord’s
They have also received a suspended points deduction, with ECB chief executive Richard Gould (pictured) explaining that ‘appropriate action’ should be taken following the breaches
The business plan includes strict spending limits on player costs, a requirement to make annual profits and gives the ECB the right to attend Middlesex board meetings. The club’s accounts for 2020/21 showed a loss of £952,000, so making a profit will prove a huge challenge.
“We have entered into agreements with all our provincial cricket clubs and provincial cricket boards to ensure that ECB funding is used appropriately and for the purposes for which it is intended,” said ECB chief executive Richard Gould. “If violations of our regulations and agreements occur, it is good that we take appropriate measures.
“It is crucial that all our members have the necessary governance arrangements in place to ensure that ECB funding is used appropriately.”
Middlesex have accepted their punishment and pledged to improve their financial management in the future.
“Middlesex is committed to ensuring that the club’s financial management and governance is of the highest standard going forward and we are committed to working closely with the ECB to ensure this is the case,” said chief executive Andrew Cornish .