Foxes board back Davidson

Davidson: Supported by board members

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The Leicestershire board have backed chairman Neil Davidson in the ongoing management row at the club.

Davidson has come under fire after accusing captain Matthew Hoggard and coach Tim Boon of "setting a very poor example" to playing staff.

There have also been rumblings of discontent at board level after chief executive David Smith resigned following an apparent breakdown in his relationship with Davidson.

But although one member of the board resigned at a meeting on Friday, the remaining four members and president David Wilson gave Davidson their full backing.

"Leicestershire CCC announces that Paul Haywood resigned from the board today," a club statement read.

"The remaining board members John Allen, Tony Hill, Mike Siddall and Andrew York together with president David Wilson confirmed their unanimous support for chairman Neil Davidson."

Losses

It was also revealed that the Foxes are expected to post an annual loss of £300,000 after a disappointing campaign in the Friends Provident t20.

The statement continued: "By mid-June it was clear to the board that a significant financial loss was developing, which is why the chief executive (Smith) and senior coach (Boon) were asked to explain the team's disappointing home one-day performances.

"Despite significant expenditure on senior players and the club having some of the finest young cricketers in the country the team has won only a single one-day home game so far this season.

"The absence of (Australian all-rounder) Andrew McDonald has been a contributory factor but equally all Championship victories have been achieved without his presence."

The statement also revealed that the board believe an "undemocratic takeover" attempt of the club has been recently planned and are keen to stop such an event from happening.

"The board has also, very recently, received information of what amounts to a planned undemocratic takeover of the club," it said.

"The board is carrying out its own investigation but will vigorously resist any such attempts on behalf of the membership."