SEVERAL times during a long Yorkshire CCC annual meeting at Headingley on Saturday there were complaints that no-one appeared to be accepting responsibility for last year's dreadful financial mess.

Chief executive Colin Graves admitted the cash position had brought the club to within 24 hours of going under.

Peter Broadley, of Halifax, believed that a full and coherent report was needed to find out what had brought them so close to administration and that it should name names.

He said he felt let down by professional people responsible for the ground development, the club's lawyers and the auditors.

President Robin Smith said that a full report would prove very costly and he could see no real value in it. The old committee could not avoid responsibility for what had happened because they were solely in charge. He was a member of that committee but was club president and not chairman or chief executive and it had been his job to make sure when the crunch came that the proper decisions were taken so that the club could prosper.

Despite a recommendation from finance director, Brian Bouttell, that the club's auditors should be retained, only 19 members in the hall voted in favour but they were re-appointed on the strength of the proxy vote which saw 1,244 in favour and only 68 against.

Dunnington-based Graves told members that marketing was the lifeblood of the club and from May 1 Ian Bishop would become their full time marketing director in a paid capacity. He had just secured a deal in excess of £30,000 with one company and had other ideas in hand.

Graves said that Test match ticket sales already totalled £400,000 and hospitality stood at £350,000 which was £100,000 up on last year. Membership was one of the club's most important assets and a member who introduced a new member would get £20 off next year's subscription with a further £20 for each additional member.

Director of Cricket, Geoff Cope, said that Darren Gough is working hard on his comeback and is now an invaluable part of the Yorkshire squad as they prepare for the new season.

"Darren has been working two hours a day in the nets and is currently bowling of his full run but he knows that he is now in the last chance saloon," said Cope. "He is giving everything he can but if he is not right in three months he will have to make a decision about his future."

Cope reported that Gavin Hamilton - who missed most of last season because he lost confidence in his bowling - was very fit and heavily involved in the practice sessions.

"We sincerely hope his problems are over because he is a major player. The pressure will be kept away from him until we start playing and then we can judge how things are going for him."

Customs and Excise officer Simon Parsons topped the list of candidates seeking places on the new members' committee with 1,103 votes and also elected were Tony Cawdry (787), Sidney Fielden (745) and Tony Vann (725).

Eric Houseman (Harrogate) and Robert Hilliam (Scarborough) both missed out.

Four members have still to be appointed by the Board and Graves will attend all of the committee meetings.

Bob Platt, Phil Sharpe and Michael Crawford were elected honorary life members and Cawdry, Fielden, Keith Moss, Jack Sokell, Peter Townend and David Welch were elected vice-presidents.

Updated: 10:45 Monday, March 31, 2003