Report: Stanford walks away from cricket

[silentstriker]

Huge news, if true, especially for the WI, and for the ECB as well

 

[_Ed_]

That is big news, but at the same time I'm not exactly surprised. Always struck me as a bit of a whimsical sort of guy and not someone who could be relied upon in the long term.

 

[Precambrian]

Was about to post that article.

If true, terrible news for ECB who have just lost the Vodafone sponsorship as well, and could accentuate the concentration of cricketing moneypower in the subcontinent.

 

[Richard]

Not surprising at all to me, always said his interest in cricket was odd TSTL.

However, given all sorts of people were presuming his backing would be there, this is quite possibly going to be a serious headache for a fair few people.

 

[superkingdave]

Meh, Stanford only provides much benefit if we win a game or two

 

[nightprowler10]

Its just as well. I could see him having a long term negative impact on the game.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Good for cricket, bad for the West Indies.

 

[silentstriker]

Meh, Stanford only provides much benefit if we win a game or two

Hmm, I don't think this is true. The players certainly, but the ECB and WICB got money regardless of who won.

 

[GIMH]

Hasn't he signed a five-year deal?

 

[Redbacks]

Most people don't like losing $40 million USD a year so he will be able to walk away. He seemed a bit false from the start.

 

[andruid]

Came across as a bit shallow with the big helicopter and briefcase full of cash bravado

 

[pup11]

I am not one bit surprised, i never could really understand what he was trying to achieve by investing such huge amount of money without getting any prospective profits in return, he never came across as a guy willing to churn out that much just for welfare, development and love of the game, huge blow this both for both ECB and WICB (in particular), as all of Stanford' money could have helped revive the interest for the game among the youth of the Caribbean.

 

[silentstriker]

Hasn't he signed a five-year deal?

Usually these things have clauses that allow one or both parties to terminate the deal under certain conditions (e.g, if you can show a certain amount of monetary loss, or something like that).

 

[Jigga988]

I dont actually see what Stanford would gain from firing representatives. All he would lose is the respect of the west indian fans. Furthermore, Colin Croft came out saing that he (Stanford) would continue on with both the inter island comp and the 20-20 for 20 comp. However, i dont think this is likely; i think his interest has just dropped in the game.

 

[four_or_six]

BBC report is a bit more informative.

 

[Richard]

Sounds like there's more to come from this story fo' sho'.

 

[Goughy]

To a certain extent I dont blame him. He has a big ego and noone likes spending 10s of millions only to get criticised.

If nothing else ECB got a few mill for doing nothing.

It would be great if the SuperSeries continued but I think his reported business plan was always a little wrong and I think he enthusiasm took a bash from a lot of unappreciative people.

Its not great timing after the Vodaphone news but it opens up other opportunities.

Though with the global economic climate (Id be interested in seeing the cost of TV ad space compared to a year ago) things may get a little tougher. Even the all powerful NFL have been laying people off.

Now with this news and the Vodaphone news, what we finally need to further push English cricket to financial desperation is to get cricket on terrestrial TV and away from Skys dirty millions as some would have

 

[silentstriker]

Goughy, while obviously the money in the present is important, aren't you sacrificing your future for the present by denying the majority of the English public to tune into a Test match?

 

[Goughy]

Goughy, while obviously the money in the present is important, aren't you sacrificing your future for the present by denying the majority of the English public to tune into a Test match?

It always had a minority audience, it is often on when people are at work or school, the domestic stations didnt want it, Sky gives access to a quality and quantity of cricket we have never had before and gives a massive pot load of cash to the ECB for the honor.

As long as highlights are available on terrestrial TV then cricket fans have never had it so good.

 

[G.I.Joe]

I really hope the ECB get their Twenty20 tournament off the ground so they no longer have to rely on these opportunists.