Warwickshire members face the prospect of their club "going bust" if they do not accept cricket's changing environment.
That was the stark warning of chief executive, Colin Povey, when he addressed about 250 supporters at a members' forum last night.
Responding to concerns over the raised cost of membership and, in particular, the cost of car parking, Povey and commercial director James McLaughlin warned that the club was "living beyond its means."
Warwickshire face losses in excess of #1.5 million per year if the right to host Test cricket is lost, Povey said, and had to adjust to a new, more competitive reality. The number of 'would be' Test venues was growing regularly, and Warwickshire needed to invest heavily to survive and prosper.
The membership remains underwhelmed by the new regime. "It's our club; we don't want to be fleeced," one member said to applause.
The management, not without support, would probably have been relieved by the relatively low level of resistance their plans met.
Thee director of cricket, Mark Greatbatch, said that the club were "active" in their search for "the missing ingredient in our bowling attack; a pace bowler."
Heath Streak reiterated that he would register as a Kolpak player if required, suggesting that the club would sign an overseas fast bowler for next season.
The club later clarified that the car park would be reserved for members on match days at a cost of #3 per entry.
