Monday 28th January - THE AGM 

The membership are here in force. 

No Roy Kerslake - he's in Oz.  Giles is in and Andy Nash is there with Mr Gould, Mr Gabbitas, Rory and Andy Hurry. No players in obvious presence.  Rosey is preparing for a family funeral so he isn't there.  Where will the sense come from? 

For the Stragglers faithful, Tony has turned up for his first AGM in 40 years!!  Goeeeee Tone! 

Clarkey presents his report. Life membership is awarded to Vic Marks to an ovation and with a joke included.  Roy says nice things about Giles in written form before the start of the meeting and Giles says nice things about Rosey and Andy for their work during 2007.  He also says nice things about the influence of Justin and the performance of Caddick.  All seems well on the operation front with the big man.  Good news about the English performance of James Hildreth.  Excecllent news about Trigger and the MCC. Mark Turner and Craig Keiswetter have been involved in the England setup.

Giles apologises for destroying half the ground and then attacks the Somerset council bureaucrats for their slowness followed by good comments about the local politicians. Praise for Rory O'Donell's integrity in the financial management of the cub.  A tribute to Andy Nash - "there has been no politics at Somerset" in the last 5 years. He accepts the priviledge of the stewardship we have given him.  Good general speech. 

Few questions of Giles.  Some thanks and on we go.  A comment about GC's influence on the development of the Championship winning side.  A comment about the poor side of 3 years ago (comprising most of the players still playing today) but we have to say thanks to Giles because the worst criticism of him was that he "did no harm" - which some people expected.  It  wasn't an easy job to take and we are stonger after him than before him.  What more do you want from a Chariman? 

Finance is next.  Rory points out that we passsed £4m income for the first time.  "Barralage discounts on wet sales" leaves me cold.  I'm sure you can get a set of accounts from the ground if you're desperate.  ECB revenue increased because of player involvement in the England setup and that has to be a really good aspect of the accounts. Playing costs went up by 24% but the performance in 2006 meaning we invested in the team in 2007 and that has paid off.  We still made a small profit.  Trading surplus up from £18K to £25K. Pre-tax £50+K and after tax £39K.  We now own the "Plumbers Yard" near Barnicotts.  So we own all the stuff in that area.  We also had to do the deal to buy the Coal Orchard area before we did the deal with Pegasus.  Not a bad year in the finance world.  Rory thinks we are strongere than any time in the pasat 19 years.  We are sittng on over £2m in cash!!  Rory sees the ground as an appreciating asset.  Rory re-appointed as Treasurer. Chief Exec then reports on the committee reps.  I'm sure they are going to publish the results.  Rich Parsons, Martin Powell, David Gabbitas and Brian Dawe were re-elected. Formal AGM stuff is done. 

Richard then starts the important stuff.  QUESTION TIME!! 

Andy Hurry reports on the cricket.  Winter training - 4 players overseas.  Neil E, John F, Steff and Justin.  Mike Munday is also out in Adelaide.  Specialist training for spin bowling.  Ian Blackwell was out there with others.  Mark Turner and Andy Sutton are off to Chenai next month to work wth Lillee.  Craig K making a big impression with England setup. 

Ben Phillips had a chest muscle problem but is working through it very well.  He won't bowl against batsmen until the UAE tour.  Caddick's operation was succesful - sees the consultant on Feb 2 and then he'll start to build up strength in the pool before he joins the UAE tour but he won't play there.  He wll be ready for the Cambridge game.  Banger is back in full training.  Keith Parsons has had an operation on his foot and he's back in training. 

3 new additions - Omari Banks, competition in the spin bowling and an attacking batsman as well.  Very hungry to succeed in England.  Andrew Sutton, young fast bowler who played against us for the MCC.  Great potential.  Max Waller young leg spinner from Millfield, talented "mystery spinner".  Players report back 13 March.  UAE - 4 games, Essex, Sussex, Yorkshire and UAE in 13 days.  One day development before four day development against Glamorgan and a university side.

What is the situation relating to Arul?

He hasn't got his residency.  He doesn't count as an English player.  He's taken his exam and we're looking to move it on.  Within 12 months he'll get the whole thing.  It doesn't affect his selection. 

Justin will be available for the first competitive game of the season

After we looking to sign anyone else? 

Nothing to report except that we've been looking at SA.  Neil McKenzie won't be back.

Have we got a VC? 

Caddick is VC.  Rob Woodman is training on a full time basis.  He'll join MCC March 1 but we can pull him back at any time. 

Then we have the OHP's of the ground situation.

We have the bit of the churchyard we needed so "our boundaries are secure". Concentration is now on the Western perimeter.  The Stragglers will survive in some form - proposals will be brought forward later.  Building starts on 4 February.  The main stand on trhe Western side (2000 people) will be going up wth residential units behind it.  The shops and retail area will be owned by the club n the new sqaure between the club and the Brewhouse.  We will start work in the churchyard to  define a permanent international size boundary.  The landscaped Gimblett Hill will be there (it's a tiered bit)  There'll be a model at the moment being built.  There is a members only stand (with a roof - but not next season) that will link to the Botham Stand - but we need planning permission.  Frosty may get a new shed.  New scoreboard will be up for the start for the new season. There will be disturbances during the season. In March you'll get info about what will be there and what won't be  Capacity will only be about 800 down on last season and they will bring in seating when necessary (20/20's etc).  The whole thing will be ready by August 12 (??).  Gimblett and the members stand should be ready before then. 

Food in the Old Pavilion will improve. 

Will the redevelopment stay on track? 

We started late but we want to keep the momentum and the upset to members will be "very very minimal".  We are one of the clubs that will be playing at their ground while this goes on - others aren't so lucky 

How many seats will we have for the Friends Provident games? 

We will have a capacity of 5800 for those games but they are our least popular games.  

Will we have facilities for floodlilghts in the new plan?  Can we actually put them up? 

The ECB is giving grants to all grounds for floodlights so it looks like we will have some.  We will have floodlights this year and it won't be a problem when the whole thing is finished. 

Do we control the builders on big matchdays? 

They can cause havoc.  We have a clause that the umpire can stop the contractors working if it affects the match. 

Somerset Beer question.  Local beers  at Somerset were zero.  Exmoor Gold has gone.  Can we include Somerset beers?  We need to support those breweries that support the game.  Marstons sponsor us to the tune of £50K.  So no local beer then!  But we will have local cider. 

What about the pitch boundary? 

The boundary to the south can be extetnded at any time but Frosty won't be planning to do that this year...enough to do. 

Management communication with the support is poor.  Will it improve?

Communication is via the website first and we hope the journalists pick up on major stories.  The paper versions are really costly and we need the money for players. 

What about parking?  Where will out of towners park? 

Part of the plan includes a multi-storey car park but that is on a longer timescale. Nothing will be different next year except that you will lose part of the Brewhouse. 

Praise then came for Andy Nash and the way he took over from Giles leaving almost overnight.  It is very rare to have the Chairman of the ECB at Somerset AGM. 

Nashy then talks about bieng the "BOGOF" in 2002.  He alludes to Giles' level of tact.  The work to get to this stage has been like "dragging a wet mattress up the stairs" through the paperwork.  GC started the Kerslake Report so credit were it's due.  Glowing terms for the Clarks and a formal vote of thanks was unanimous. 

Nashy's 5 key objectives

1. Leave the club in better shape than you find it.  Make the club financially stronger.  We are buiding in assets that generate long term income. Build on the progress of last year's cricket.

2. Compete in ALL the top honours.  We aim to win the County Championship

3. Make the County ground the best in the country.  We will put up floodlights.Put in an international calibre Lord's type drainage system (ECB grants).

4. Invest in the academy and the young talent of all the counties we support.  

5. On the pitch and off it we will work with a smile in the good and the bad times. 

Rousing stuff if a bit too glossy for some.  Seems to be on the right side.

The committee then thanked the supporters and it all closes with lots of slaps on the back.  Giles was his usual aggressive self - didn't need to be really with everfyone saying nice things about him but that seems to be his nature.  Nashy had lots of football analogies, time will tell what kind of Chairman he will become.  Richard was jovial and presented the site stuff well but he is also the economist and if it makes money it stays.

We got all our questions answered and it all passed off quite nicely really.  Nnow what do those who weren't there think of it all I wonder? 

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