Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Queensland cuts take cricket job losses to 135

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Monday, 25 May 2020 00:01

Community cricket will take another blow as part of Queensland Cricket's decision to follow Victoria in making severe cuts to the state association, as around half of 32 full-time positions made redundant are drawn from the areas geared at developing the game's grassroots beyond the politically powerful Brisbane grade competition.

Queensland's announcement on Monday arrived as the association continued to haggle with Cricket Australia over a deal to cut its annual distribution by around 25%, with talks understood to have moved to the amount of flexibility contained within the agreement should revenue from the 2020-21 season not be as badly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic as first feared.

These talks, and the strong likelihood of an India tour of Australia next summer alongside the Big Bash League, have left the timing of the cuts open to question, though they are not quite as deep as those announced by Cricket Victoria. There is one pointed parallel with Victoria however: Queensland is understood to have informed Brisbane grade clubs that their grants from the state association will not be affected this year, even as cutbacks are made elsewhere, notably to community cricket staff and also the structure and size of the Brisbane Heat's backroom.

ALSO READ: ACA swipes at Cricket Australia: 'Something is horribly wrong'

In its most recent annual report, Queensland Cricket declared reserves of about A$7.6 million among total assets worth A$18.3 million. Cricket Victoria, by contrast, declared reserves of A$25.4 million among total assets valued at A$78.7 million.

Should Queensland agree to reduced annual funding, New South Wales would be left as the only state not to have put pen to paper with CA to accept cuts to annual distributions. So far, a total of 135 jobs have been lost among the states, comprising South Australia (23), Tasmania (20), Victoria (60) and now Queensland (32).

Of these, South Australia's arrived first due to the association's direct link to the delayed start to the winter football season through its shared management of Adelaide Oval. However, the rest have all followed CA's signals of deep financial trouble for the game when the chief executive Kevin Roberts claimed his organisation would be broke by August without immediate cost-cutting - a contention that has subsequently proven considerably more alarmist than realist.

"Like all sporting codes and organisations, Queensland Cricket has felt the significant impacts of Covid-19. While we continue to have constructive negotiations with Cricket Australia around cuts to state association funding, we realise we need to act now in the interest of the financial health of cricket in Queensland," Queensland's chief executive Terry Svenson said. "This has been an extremely challenging time and our thoughts are foremost with our employees who have no doubt been living with a high level of uncertainty and anxiety.

"Our presence in community cricket and regional Queensland remains strong, and in some cases, we have offered employees the opportunity to take on cross-role responsibilities in talent identification, coaching and club support. Cricket is still focused on promoting our sport to women and girls and we remain well-resourced in the areas of female talent specialists and high performance. As part of our new structure, QC will contract a head selector for female cricket for the first time."

CA had previously stood down some 200 staff on drastically reduced pay, while executives and a skeleton staff remained on board on 80% of their usual salaries. A sizeable round of redundancies at CA itself is expected to be only a matter of weeks away, even as forecasts of the effect of Covid-19 continue to be revised to more optimistic levels. Monday saw reports that this year's AFL Grand Final can be expected to be watched by as many as 30,000 spectators at the MCG.

That news was not reflected in Svenson's explanation for the decision, as he leaned heavily on the idea that the 2020-21 season would be likely to play out without any revenue derived from spectators. While revenue from tickets and corporate sales for international matches are collected by CA before forming a portion of state distributions, money from Big Bash League attendances and corporate boxes flow directly into the coffers of the state associations.

The Brisbane Heat have drawn consistently strong crowds to the Gabba despite fluctuating results, averaging around 25,000 to rank behind only the Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars for attendance.

"As it currently stands, uncertainty remains as to whether we can have crowds at cricket matches this summer," Svenson said. "While parts of our operating model will change, our aim is for this to be a seamless transition for participants, volunteers, partners, clubs and fans. We know cricket is being faced with challenges, however our resolve to unite and inspire Queensland communities through cricket has not wavered."

Read 226 times

Soccer

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

USWNT's Albert apologizes after Rapinoe criticism

EmailPrintUnited States women's national team midfielder Korbin Albert apologized on Thursday for pr...

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

Leicester sack women's boss for breach of conduct

EmailPrintLeicester City manager Willie Kirk has been dismissed from his position after an internal...

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

Davies' agent blasts Bayern's contract 'ultimatum'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe agent of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies has criticised the...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

Basketball

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

Hornets shut down LaMelo (ankle) for season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball will not play again this season...

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

Lawyer: Ex-G Leaguer won't face death penalty

EmailPrintFormer G League player Chance Comanche, who was charged with the murder of a woman whose b...

Baseball

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

Heroic debut: Soto's throw saves Yankees in 9th

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON -- That Juan Soto's first signature Yankee moment happened...

Ohtani welcomed, helps Betts, Freeman drive win

Ohtani welcomed, helps Betts, Freeman drive win

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani was pleased with the quality of his at...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated