Yorkshire: Chairman Colin Graves says club needs private structure

Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves has said the club must become a private structure in order to survive.

Graves returned to the county at the start of the year with the club in a challenging financial position.

In a statement on the club website,, external he outlined that Yorkshire lost £2.7m last year and that their total losses now exceed £9m.

“Unfortunately, there is no doubt that without swift and decisive action, YCCC [Yorkshire County Cricket Club] will be fighting for its survival during 2024,” he said.

“A demutualisation – thereby converting the club to a private structure, which unlocks potential private investment – appears at this point essential for the club’s future.

“My firm intention is that members’ current rights are protected and that a demutualisation would represent no change to their current interaction with YCCC.

“The club would be better structured to be self-sustaining, still in existence, and to capture maximum value for YCCC from any processes such as The Hundred.

“Other county clubs, including Hampshire and Northamptonshire, have successfully demutualised and are realising the benefits of this structure.”