Express & Star

'Our innings isn't over': Cannock sports club vows to keep fighting

Bosses at Cannock Cricket & Hockey Club have vowed to fight on to secure their future, pledging: "This innings is not over yet."

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Receivers from Duff & Phelps of London Ltd locked up the site on Wednesday

The clubs have been locked out of their Chase Park home, in Church Lane, Hatherton, after receivers were called into the site amid a dispute over the potential redevelopment of the ground.

However, both cricket and hockey chiefs are fighting on and have been flooded with offers of help from other clubs eager to help.

Cannock Cricket Club honorary secretary Graham Machin said they have been contacted by representatives from Burntwood, Brewood, Lichfield, Church Eaton and Hammerwich cricket clubs as well as others who have offered either to host games or to do anything they can to assist.

A sign on the entrance to Chase Park, the home of Cannock Cricket & Hockey Club

And Mr Machin said the message is clear: "The ground may be locked right now but our club has been going for more than a century and after 139 years, this innings is not over yet.

"We are still playing games and we have rearranged fixtures to play 'home' games at other clubs.

A sign at the entrance to Chase Park, which is next to the A5 in Hatherton

"We really are so grateful to the cricket family for their offers of support and really thankful for all the other clubs who have been in touch to offer to switch games or do whatever they can to assist us."

The club will continue to stage junior training sessions from 6-8pm on Friday evening at the temporary venue of St Luke's Primary School, in New Penkridge Road, Cannock, and senior and junior fixtures are taking place this weekend, into next week and beyond.

Hockey club chiefs have also been working to rearrange fixtures and have been in dialogue with other clubs and England Hockey to ensure they continue playing matches.

Developer and MP vow to support clubs

The developer at the centre of the dispute has vowed to do all he can to help secure the future of Cannock Cricket & Hockey Club.

The clubs are under threat after being locked out of the Chase Park ground when receivers were called into the site due to a dispute over its potential redevelopment.

It comes as South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson called for an urgent solution to the stand-off, while Sport England said the situation was brought about by Chase Park’s “financial difficulties”.

Developer Craig Watts has been in discussions for a number of years over a proposal to turn to the site’s large and under-used pavilion into apartments while creating new clubhouses elsewhere on the site to help the separate cricket and hockey clubs thrive.

Receivers were called in on Wednesday after Chase Park creditors Promontoria refused to extend the loan provision while discussions continued with Sport England over the length of the lease offer to the cricket and hockey clubs who play there.

But Cannock-based developer Mr Watts insisted he will continue to work to try to secure a deal which would help the clubs secure their futures. He told the Express & Star he remains eager to to help, adding: “Some eight years ago I was asked by CCHC if I would consider making a five-figure contribution to this ailing facility.

“As a local keen sportsperson who has spent many good times enjoying the benefits of this facility it was clear to me that a new plan was needed to bring all clubs up to date sharing their own incomes and expenditures. An exciting plan was presented and after endless meetings with local councillors, club members, Sport England, the clubs thought they had a new future.

“The final blow came via auditors who pronounced the clubs unsustainable and so no way forward was possible.”

Mr Watts asked to thank Jamie Fleet, Graham Machin, Dave Robinson, Ian Gardner and David Michael of the Chase Park executive group “for their endless hours of unpaid work and commitment” and vowed to carry on negotiating with the receivers to seek a sports solution for the site.

Meanwhile Mr Williamson said: “I will do everything I can to help. The important thing here is to come to a swift solution that is satisfactory for all parties concerned.”

Sport England has questioned claims that it demanded a 15-year lease.

A spokesman said: “Sport England agreed earlier this week to the sale of the site and as a condition of this, the hockey club being provided with a 10-year lease.

“This situation has been brought about by the financial difficulties the club has faced over the last five years.”