The MCC are ‘investigating a misappropriation of funds’ after their 2023 financial accounts revealed ‘money had gone missing’… as cricket club announce record income after enthralling Lord’s Ashes Test

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has reportedly announced to its members that ‘external bodies’ are currently investigating ‘the misappropriation’ of the club’s funds.

As reported by The Telegraphthe news broke at the MCC’s annual general meeting at Lord’s on Wednesday afternoon, with the outlet claiming the investigation concerns “money that has gone missing.”

The newspaper also states that the club’s treasurer, Chris Rogers, informed members that ‘lawyers’ were investigating the cause of the missing funds and that the historic cricket club would also review their financial controls.

The MCC enjoyed a fruitful year in 2023, announcing record high revenues for the past twelve months, with the historic cricket club earning £67.8 million from the enthralling second Ashes Test at Lord’s..

Australia claimed a 43-run win against England in that match to take a 2–0 lead in the series. Jonny Bairstow was also sacked in controversial circumstances, while several MCC members were handed suspensions for shouting insults at Australia’s players in the Lord’s long room.

The MCC realized the “money was missing” when they submitted their 2023 financial accounts

The organization recorded a record income of £67.8 million after last summer’s Ashes series

During the AGM, Rogers added that he could not reveal more details about the matter, according to The Telegraph, but added that there were no concerns about the “integrity of the 2023 accounts.”

“I want members to know that we are currently investigating embezzlement within the club,” he said.

“This is under investigation by outside lawyers and I cannot provide many more details at this time.”

“I can say, however, that the integrity of the 2023 and earlier accounts is not in question.

‘What it highlights for me, combined with a small number of checkpoints that emerged during the year-end process, is that it would be a good idea to review the club’s processes and controls and this will take place over the next few months. ‘

Mail Sport contacted the MCC but they were unable to provide a statement on the matter.

In 2022, the MCC made a profit of £59.1m but appears to have seen its turnover grow, partly thanks to various sponsorship partnerships with brands including JP Morgan, Carlsberg, Veuve Clicquot and Hawes & Curtis.

Jonny Bairstow was controversially dismissed during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in 2023

The MCC has reaped the benefits of several major sponsorship agreements in recent years

The club also announced that former Bank of England Governor Mervyn King would take over as the new president of the MCC

In 2023, the MCC earned £27.2 million in box office receipts, while the club also pocketed a further £20.6 million from hospitality sales.

On Wednesday, the club also announced that former Bank of England governor Mervyn King would take over as the new president of the MCC.

King, who led the Bank of England for a decade, is also in the House of Lords and will take up his post in October.