Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club confirmed a pre-tax profit of £279,000 for the year ending September 2017 at their Annual General Meeting held at County Hall, West Bridgford this evening.

It represents a significant turnaround in financial fortunes from the previous year, when the Club had reported a loss of £741,000 in the absence of hosting a Test Match at Trent Bridge.

It was, said chairman Richard Tennant, another reason to be pleased after the successes on the pitch that saw the Green and Golds clinch a domestic white ball double by winning the Royal London One-Day Cup and T20 Blast, as well as promotion back to Division One of the County Championship.

“The change (from loss to profit) demonstrates the importance of hosting Test cricket at Trent Bridge,” he said. “We are very pleased with the future programme of matches, announced recently. The award gives us the certainty of supply we need to build our next development and infrastructure plans to further enhance Trent Bridge.”

Director of Cricket Mick Newell paid tribute to long-serving captain Chris Read, who retired at the end of the season and added that Steven Mullaney, who was in attendance at the meeting, would be the ideal replacement.

“Ready has been a fantastic cricketer and ambassador for Notts over 20 years, up there with Rice and Hadlee in what he did for our Club, and you will still see plenty of him in his part-time coaching role with us,” he said.

“We have needed to find a new Club Captain for the first time since 2008. Mull has impressed us all with his desire to take on the job, as well as his passion for the Club, and I am very confident you will be impressed by his leadership.”

After so much success on the field in 2017, Head Coach Peter Moores explained that the Club wanted to ‘move again’ when the new season began in April.

He said: “In winning there is always comfort, and our challenge is to be as hungry as we were at the start of last season, while using the confidence and experience we gained from our achievements.

“Our responsibility is to give it our all and be up for every day knowing we are representing a great Club. No one can guarantee winning, but commitment, desire and enthusiasm are within our control.”

Four appointments were made to the General Committee at the meeting, with Richard Tennant, Darren Bicknell and Ray Dawson being re-elected and Richard Stevenson being appointed for the first time.

Bill Taylor, who has retired from his role on the Committee, was appointed as President for 2018, succeeding Peter Wynne-Thomas, who served in the role for two years.

David J. Richards and Richard Martin, who have contributed so much to local recreational cricket, were made Honorary Life Members.

************

Vitality Blast tickets go on general sale on Thursday 1 March. Tickets will be available at trentbridge.co.uk.