BRIAN HALFORD

Staff writer

Warwickshire supporter Kim Jones will challenge for a place on the county’s general commmittee tonight in an attempt to supply another voice for the members in the Bears’ decision making process.

Birmingham-born Jones aims to unseat one of five existing committee-men up for re-election at tonight’s gathering in the Pavilion Suite.

To win a place on the committee, Jones must poll more votes than any of incumbents Neil Houghton (club chairman), Jamie McDowall, Iain Metcalfe, Jeremy Payne and Malcolm Willcox.

He has his supporters amongst regular watchers at Edgbaston, though whether enough to unseat any of the long servers he is challenging remains to be seen.

But Jones, who runs an advertising agency and lives in Oswestry, would love an opportunity to ensure that the feelings of members are driven home when it matters in the club’s corridors of power.

“I think it is vital that opinions of the rank and file membership are properly heard,” he said. “I don’t think that has always been the case. I have always supported Warwickshire and regularly attended games for the last ten years but, even now, only know three or four committee members.

“There are quite a few ex-players on the committee and while they have their merits and were fine players for the Bears, they have never been members. So they can’t really see things from our perspective.

“The new management structure at Warwickshire has quite a big executive presence so now, more than ever, the members’ voices need to be heard. The members have to be properly represented so I just thought it was time I decided to stop grumbling on the official and unofficial websites and actually try to do something.”

Also at the meeting tonight, chief executive Colin Povey will brief members on the plans to redevelop the pavilion.