Colin Graves bids for a fresh start for Yorkshire as his return draws closer

Colin Graves called for a “line in the sand” to be drawn on Yorkshire’s turbulent recent history after members voted in favor of his return as chairman on Friday.

A resolution to accept a loan offer for the hunting club from the 76-year-old, who was previously chairman and helped save Yorkshire from financial ruin in 2002, received overwhelming support from members at a heated extraordinary general meeting .

Graves’ return will be controversial given the racism scandal that has engulfed the club since 2020 partly on his watch, with Yorkshire member Gurminder Singh speaking out at the CGU saying Graves was “in charge on (Yorkshire) down the road” on their current difficulties.

Graves warned it could be a “bumpy ride” but struck a tone of conciliatory tone when the special resolution passed with an 88 per cent majority among the 845 who cast votes – just under a quarter of the 3,500 member who was entitled to vote.

“I give you my personal commitment to you and the whole of Yorkshire, regardless of background, community, ethnicity, everyone – and I mean everyone – is welcome in a solid and inclusive culture and environment at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. There will be no exception,” he said.

“The work the board has done in this area over the past two years is fantastic and will continue.

“I have already apologized unreservedly for any mistake made by the club or myself over the difficult and difficult years of the past.

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“Let’s draw a line in the sand. What happened is history – I can’t change it, you can’t change it. So there is no point in waiting for it. We’ve all put our hand up and said if things were wrong, we’re sorry. Let’s forget about that. Let’s hope.

“Lessons have been learned and will continue to be acted upon. Make no mistake, this will not be easy. It will be a bumpy ride. But we can do this with hard work, transparency, trust and enthusiasm.

“I’m not doing this for fun, I’m not doing this for Colin Graves, I can assure you I’m doing this for Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

“I could be sitting at home with my slippers on my feet doing anything. I made the decision to come here, fix this club and get it back to where it needs to be.”

Last month, when the board recommended to members that Graves’ offer be accepted, Graves apologized to anyone who had experienced racism in Yorkshire. Azeem Rafiq, who spoke out in 2020 about the discrimination he faced, said at the time that he did not accept that excuse.

The England and Wales Cricket Board warned last month that it was “vital” to continue the work done to tackle discrimination at Yorkshire, and that it had “significant powers that can be used to hold Yorkshire to account ” unless this is found to be the case. .

The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee confirmed on Friday that Graves will appear before it along with senior ECB figures on February 20 to answer questions about sport’s progress in tackling discrimination.

CMS Committee Chair Dame Caroline Dinenage said: “On the Yorkshire takeover, although Colin Graves has now apologized to those who suffered racism, and for his disrespectful approach to those who suffered, during his last spell in club, we want to make sure that. lessons have been learned and attitudes have changed.”

The appointment of Graves to the board and three associates – Phillip Hodson, Sanjay Patel and Sanjeev Gandhi – as non-executive directors is still subject to approval by the Financial Conduct Authority over the next two weeks, which Graves said limited his ability to spell out do. his plans for the club.

Members were asked to recommend Graves’ loan offer in a notice issued on January 11. It consists of a two-part unsecured personal loan of £1million from Graves, and the new non-executive directors will work with the board to arrange an alternative arrangement. £4 million of funding over the next five months.

Current chairman Harry Chathli told the media after the meeting that the board’s initial focus in the search for refinancing was to maintain Yorkshire’s members’ club status, and that selling the club would have ruled out a possible takeover. the status “three times more. ” at least.

However, both Chatli and chief executive Stephen Vaughan made it clear to members that the club would face administration without Graves’ offer.

“As directors we would not be fulfilling our duty of care if we deliberately put this club into administration because we did not like a personality. That cannot happen,” Chatli said during the meeting.

Vaughan added: “We’ve kissed a lot of frogs and gone to a lot of beauty parades, and we’re now in a place where the deal that Colin and his team are bringing is the only one that will keep the business going. forward.”