Willows keen to secure funds (From Bournemouth Echo)

Willows keen to secure funds

7:00am Wednesday 13th June 2012 in Cricket

COACH Alan Willows has issued a plea for sponsors after revealing Dorset were being forced to field a team based on age rather than ability.

Stalwart Glyn Treagus became the first victim when new ECB funding issues regarding age restrictions led to him quitting the county after he had been dropped.

Dorset’s coffers will be boosted to the tune of up to £10,000 this season providing they continue to field a team with an average age of 26 or under.

Willows told the Daily Echo: “Financially, we are in a very difficult position and are staying afloat purely on the funding from the ECB.

“We cannot afford to go over the age of 26 because we would lose a tremendous amount of money.

“Every time we go under the age of 26, we get money and, for us, it is a lot of money.

“There are budget restrictions on any county team and we don’t have money to throw at players. We need the income from the ECB and it is between £7,000 and £10,000.

“It might not sound a lot to some people but it is for us.

“We don’t have a sponsor so have to be funded by the ECB. That is the reason a key selection becomes an issue. Why wouldn’t we want to play Glyn Treagus and these other guys?

“We just cannot do it because we don’t have the income. We are really struggling.

“We were Minor Counties champions in 2010 and are in a national quarter-final this year. We are striving to be the best minor county in the country and we don’t have a sponsor. It is crazy.

“We are a good side and are playing above where we should be.

“We are doing brilliantly with the budget restraints and you have got to give great credit to the players.”

For more details on sponsorship, contact Alan Willows on 07887 752891.