Yorkshire CCC suffered record financial losses of almost £1.3million last year.

In a year of turmoil on and off the field at Headingley, the county's income dropped by more than £200,000, largely due to more problems with the club shop.

Despite the County Championship success of 2001, the shop recorded a profit of just £460 that year, a figure so surprising that police were initially asked to investigate.

That was one of a number of issues which led to the demise of the county's former committee and the creation of a new management structure.

But club members, who this week receive the annual report, will be further surprised by figures showing that the shop lost £174,290 in 2002.

Expenditure also increased sharply from £870,000 to £3.6m due mainly to higher administration and marketing costs and ground maintenance.

Yorkshire's relegation form last year also caused a slump in attendances at home Champion-ship matches, the report reveals.

The eight home games were watched by a total of 47,985 spectators compared to 66,539 the previous year. Of these, 6,942 paid through the turnstiles compared to 15,273 in 2001.

Total attendances also dropped in the Norwich Union League from 30,084 to 26,423 but 6,688 spectators watched the C&G Trophy semi-final clash with Surrey, which was almost 2,000 more than watched the two home ties the previous year.

Altogether, home attendances were down almost 30,000 to 87,799, and Yorkshire's aim now is to boost the figures by gaining instant promotion in the Championship and improving form in the National League.

Finance director Brian Bouttell tells in his finance report of the club's large marketing campaign during 2002 "which failed disastrously".

"None of the club's budgeted increases in income was met and many were below previous year's levels," he says.

"The largest deficiency was on the retail shop... Substantial over-ordering of stock caused problems with goods inward procedures and when the new board was appointed the stock level was approximately £260,000 at retail price, most of it in opened boxes.

"Any stock that could have been returned has been returned and efforts are still being made to sell stock at or even below the cost price. Stock with a cost price of £80,000 remains and this has been written down to £20,000 in the accounts."

Bouttell says the main financial concerns of the board are to reduce expenditure without prejudicing the ability to deliver and to increase income without taking unreasonable risks.

Income is budgeted to rise from £2.3m to £3.1m and the cricket budget is expected to drop from £2m to £1.7m with administration and marketing expenses falling from £963,000 to £617,000.

Meanwhile, former county star and long-standing York committee man Phil Sharpe has been nominated as an honorary life member of Yorkshire CCC.

Ex-Yorkshire and England batsman Sharpe served on the cricket committee, representing the York area, for most years from 1980. He is one of three former players nominated, the others being fast bowler Bob Platt, who played from 1955-64, joined the committee in 1986 and was cricket chairman from 1996-2002, and former club chairman, treasurer and seconds captain Michael Crawford.

Ex-Yorkshire chairman Keith Moss has been nominated as a vice-president of the club in recognition of his work over the past 12 years and will be up for election at the annual meeting at Headingley this month.

Also put forward for vice-presidency are Peter Townend, club treasurer from 1984 to 2002, and ex-committee men Tony Cawdry, Sid Fielden, Jack Sokell and David Welch, who each gave at least 21 years' service.

Updated: 09:14 Wednesday, March 05, 2003