Yorkshire’s board has authorized a controversial takeover for the cash-strapped membership from a consortium headed up by former chairman Colin Graves.
It means a deal for the county from the 75-year-old, who was chair of Yorkshire from 2012-2015, has moved nearer.
Graves’ time at Yorkshire was a part of the interval for which the membership was fined for failing to deal with the systemic use of discriminatory or racist language.
The membership’s members will now vote on whether or not to approve the takeover.
“The board of Yorkshire County Cricket Membership has tonight agreed to advocate the mortgage settlement from Mr Colin Graves,” the membership stated in a press release.
“The membership might be sending a discover to members tomorrow [Thursday, 11 January] forward of an EGM [extraordinary general meeting] which can define the small print of the provide in addition to the resolutions and rule modifications which are required to be ratified by members on the EGM.”
The EGM might be held no less than 21 days after it has been known as.
Graves has beforehand denied information of any racist behaviour throughout his time on the membership.
Nevertheless, he was criticised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) final 12 months after suggesting some incidents had been “banter”.
Former Yorkshire participant turned whistleblower Azeem Rafiq – who revealed he skilled racism on the county – has called on Yorkshire’s sponsors to oppose Graves’ return.
Following the board’s assertion on Wednesday, Rafiq posted a message on social media which stated “not my membership” with a damaged coronary heart emoji.
A membership sponsor additionally beforehand stated it was “reviewing the scenario very intently”.
Alex Sobel, the Labour MP for Leeds North West, stated: “Yorkshire County Cricket Membership has admitted the racism prevalent on the membership uncovered by the courageous testimony of Azeem Rafiq and rightly arrange a whistleblowing helpline and investigation into the instances raised.
“Mr Graves has dismissed what the membership has admitted, describing it as banter. I’m very involved that we’d lose the progress now we have made beneath a return by Mr Graves and would wish not only a assertion recanting his views however full dedication to create a membership for the entire neighborhood.”
Yorkshire has been in search of recent funding since dropping sponsors over its dealing with of the racism scandal, whereas it additionally needed to agree compensation packages with sacked workers who gained claims for unfair dismissal. The ECB initially withdrew Yorkshire’s proper to stage profitable worldwide matches at Headingley and solely reinstated it after main governance modifications had been enacted.
Final 12 months, Yorkshire revealed it wanted to repay £14.9m to the household belief owned by Graves, certainly one of its main collectors since a monetary bail-out in 2002.
The membership’s administration informed workers that they had been “critically contemplating” the cope with Graves’ consortium, having beforehand been linked with a rescue bundle from retail billionaire and former Newcastle United proprietor Mike Ashley. It’s anticipated that Graves could be reinstated as chairman.
Charity Sporting Equals stated his return would “make a mockery” of victims of racism.
However Yorkshire insisted a “rigorous course of” by the board had been carried out “to make sure the membership stays operational”.