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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

Kent hit back at ECB's radical county plans - 'We will not be rendered irrelevant'

Kent chair Simon Philip has hit out at the ECB's high performance review, vowing they "will not allow our Club to be rendered irrelevant".

The review, which was led by for England captain Sir Andrew Strauss, set out 17 recommendations for English cricket, including plans to make wholesale changes to the domestic game.

A three-division County Championship has been proposed, featuring a six-team top division and two secondary conferences where the winners would face each other for one promotion spot each year.

Red ball cricket would also be spread more evenly across the summer rather than shunted to the beginning and end of the season, while there are also plans to reduce the amount of games being played.

Under the proposal, each county would play four less T20 Blast Games and up to four less Championship games in a move that would have a major financial effect on clubs, as fewer matches will mean they earn less revenue.

And Kent have already voiced their discontent with the plans, with Philip warning: "The Strauss Review is a wide-ranging and comprehensive document. However, it should be remembered that it has been prepared through the prism of High Performance only.

"The two key areas for our Club – domestic structure and scheduling – remain within the discretion of the 18 First Class Counties. Within this group, we will now consider issues such as the needs of all our Members, supporters, players and stakeholders, the financial impact, the unintended consequences and the possibly irrevocable change to the essential nature of County Cricket.

"Kent Cricket is a fundamental part of our community, committed to supporting the growth of the Men's and Women's game at all levels.

"We continue to deliver success on the field, produce players for England and support one of the largest recreational and schools cricket populations in the country. We will not allow our Club to be rendered irrelevant."

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