Update from the Saracens Herts Premier League - 27 April.....
.
INFORMATION SENT TO ALL SHPL CLUBS - 27 APRIL 2020
The ECB had conference calls with all Premier Leagues and County Boards over 22nd and 23rd April and the SHPL are in a position to update you from our League’s point of view.
ECB The ECB announced on Friday last that there will be no professional cricket until 1st July at the earliest. They have been in regular contact with leagues and all clubs registered with Play-Cricket and we do not intend to repeat what they have said, save to say that in their communication of 17th April they included a short questionnaire which we would remind all clubs to complete and return.
FORMAT Since the Government have yet to indicate how and when the lockdown may be loosened, we can only speculate on what kind of season we may have at the moment. However, we do think it is important to, at least, have an exit strategy and prepare for what will inevitably be a truncated season so that all clubs will know what sort of cricket we may be playing. First of all, we have decided that there will be no cricket until at least 11th July giving us no more than half a season. A Survey Monkey questionnaire is being sent to all Club Representatives to complete as we would like your club’s views before we formulate our plans. A couple of pointers may be helpful.
i) In the ECB conference calls referred to in the heading to this note all but one league said that there would be no promotion or relegation this season. With self-isolation, social-distancing, few if any overseas players, weather interruptions and whatever restrictions the Government leave in place, availability will be compromised and therefore the vast majority of leagues thought it would be unfair with a shorter season and those constraints for clubs to be relegated or promoted.
ii) You may feel that there should be ‘something’ to play for. So, could there be points awarded to clubs based on where they finish to give them a small head start for next season? Might the winning club be excused a membership fee next season? There is scope in the survey for your thoughts.
Club Reps to please come back to us by 13th May with your answers (click here).
CRICKET BALLS. In our last update we made an offer regarding the purchase of cricket balls this season. That still stands and those clubs that have already paid us for their Dukes ball will be refunded. Those that may have paid Readers will be repaid when Readers return to work. However, we know that the ECB will be issuing details on or around 6th May about any help that they are able to give regarding the purchasing of cricket balls this season, so we may adjust our proposals accordingly.
FINANCE We are in the fortunate position of having in excess of £105,000 in our bank accounts and therefore will be able to deal with any contingencies that the pandemic throws at us. Saracens have confirmed that all donations from their Foundation will be suspended for the time being and as you know there will be no membership fees payable this season. (any clubs that have already paid their membership fees for this season will be refunded). Clubs will have received from the ECB details of all grants, loans and other forms of funding that are available at the moment and we do not intend to repeat those here, other than a reminder of the Government’s Business Support Grant which is available through your Local Authority. If your rateable value lies between £15,000 and £51,000 a £10,000 grant is on offer, and for those clubs with a rateable value in excess of £51,000, this increases to £25,000 We would urge you to explore that scheme if you have not yet done so.
We hope your club is weathering this unique storm and we will keep you updated when we know more. In the meantime, would the Club Reps please complete the survey
Michael Wood
Results and Fixture Secretary
Saracens Hertfordshire Premier Cricket League