Lancaster will not fold - 179-year-old cricket club remains on firm footing despite Covid-19

Captain Ben Simm has scotched rumours that Lancaster Cricket Club could be forced to fold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lancaster Cricket ClubLancaster Cricket Club
Lancaster Cricket Club

Speculation has been rife this week that the Lune Road outfit was struggling financially and that a number of the first-team squad had already defected to local rivals Morecambe.

The Northern League campaign was due to begin this month, but the start of the cricket season has been delayed until July 1 at the earliest under an ECB directive.

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There is a strong likelihood that no cricket will be played at all this summer, which will be a serious blow to the game’s fans.

Simm admitted that some members of his squad had held talks about moving to Woodhill Lane, but he was hopeful of persuading them to remain at Lancaster.

The captain also revealed that he has been in talks with a couple of players about making the switch to Lune Road.

Suggestions that Lancaster, which was formed in 1841, are in financial trouble were laughed off by Simm, who described the club as being in a strong position.

“The club is definitely not in any trouble,” said Simm.

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“We are actually in a good position with the grants which we have got in place.

“A few of the lads have said that they were going to move, but with everything which has been going on, they might be changing their mind on that.

“We are still in talks with them about staying and we are actually looking at signing a couple of players who will add to what we have got.

“There have been a few rumours flying around, but the club is not in any trouble.

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“I was listening to what the foreign secretary Dominic Raab said at the weekend and it looks doubtful that there will be any cricket played at all this summer.

“But hopefully there will and these lads will stay.”