Colin Graves set to succeed Giles Clarke as next chairman of ECB

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/30/colin-graves-giles-clarke-chairman-ecb

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Colin Graves, the Yorkshire chairman, looks certain to succeed Giles Clarke as the next chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, following his nomination by the chairman of the 18 first-class counties together with the Marylebone Cricket Club.

The nomination was put forward unopposed and the candidacy will now be put forward for election by the chairmen of the first-class counties, those of the county boards in non-first-class counties, the chairman of the Minor Counties Cricket Association, and that of MCC, all of whom comprise the 41 members of ECB. Election papers are to be distributed shortly and the result known towards the end of February. There is not likely to be any dissent, and that being the case Graves will assume his new position on 15 May, at the same time resigning his Yorkshire post.

Graves has expressed his gratitude for the nomination, which was first mooted in July, when Clarke let it be known that the triple roles of ECB chairman, committee man on the International Cricket Council – both unpaid positions – and that of full-time businessman were too time-consuming. Henceforth, with Graves in a similar situation, Clarke will continue to represent the ECB at ICC – in line with a number of other full-member countries whose chairman does not participate at ICC – while relinquishing his direct influence with the ECB, leaving Graves fully in charge of domestic affairs.

“I am grateful and honoured to have been nominated,” Graves said, “and especially so to Chris Grant, the Derbyshire chairman for proposing me, and Clive Leach of Durham and Norman Gascoigne of Warwickshire for seconding me.”

The appointment of Graves will ensure a double change at the top of the ECB administration. This month, Tom Harrison, formerly with IMG, officially started his job as chief executive officer in place of David Collier, who resigned last year. Harrison is expected to be more hands-on than his predecessor, particularly when it comes to negotiating broadcasting rights, in which field he is a leading expert. However, in the interest of maintaining a smooth transition, Clarke will stay on in his current ECB role until May.

During his time as Yorkshire chairman, Graves, who founded the Costcutter chain of supermarkets, has not been shy of speaking his mind and has overseen a transformation in the fortunes of the club from near bankruptcy and indifferent performance to the best team in the country, winning the county championship last season. Like his predecessor at ECB, he is certain to adopt a no-nonsense approach when it comes to his new role, although he will probably allow his CEO a much more free rein than Clarke did with Collier.

The dynamic now between Graves and Clarke will be interesting to watch. Both are strong, domineering characters, with the potential for some sparks, but already Graves has said that Clarke is someone with whom he can work. Harrison is likely to be the intermediary between the two, as he will be with both organisations.