Leicestershire has been boosted ahead of the 2014 season with the news that Leicester City Council has agreed to release the restrictive covenant on their Grace Road ground.
Grace Road, Leicester
The covenant was put in place nearly 50 years ago to protect the future of county cricket but the city council agreed that it is now hampering the sport’s development in Leicester.
The council imposed the restrictions on the use of the Grace Road ground when it sold the land to Leicestershire County Cricket Club (LCCC) in 1966, ensuring that it could only be used for cricket and other sporting activities.
But now, as the club seeks to increase its revenue streams in a difficult economic climate, the covenant that was meant to protect it is proving to be a barrier to new investment and development.
“When this covenant was drawn up, its purpose was to protect the future of county cricket in the city, but, ironically, it’s now having the opposite effect,” said City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby. “Having looked at the cricket club’s situation, we can see that these restrictions are now preventing the club from attracting new investment and improving the facilities it offers to the local community.
“By lifting the covenant, and giving the club the security it’s been lacking, we hope that the board will be able to access new funding – and be able to progress their ideas for a range of new development opportunities.”
Leicestershire CCC’s Chief Executive Mike Siddall has welcomed the release of the restrictive covenant.
“We’ve been trying to remove this covenant for the last 25 years, so this is fantastic news,” he said. “This move has secured the future of county cricket in Leicester by giving us the freedom to seek new investment in our ground, in the club and in our cricket-led community projects.
“It will unlock many new funding streams for the club – primarily from the England and Wales Cricket Board, which has already earmarked £1million for Leicestershire County Cricket Club.
“This is a very important day for all of us at LCCC – and we’re delighted that the city council has recognised that the covenant is no longer fit for purpose and has decided to lift the restrictions that have been holding us back.”
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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