Sir Ian Botham says counties need to be rewarded for nurturing players
Durham's Paul Coughlin will join Nottinghamshire on a three-year deal after rejecting a new contract at Emirates Riverside
Wednesday 20 September 2017 13:02, UK
Durham chairman and Sky Sports Cricket commentator Sir Ian Botham has urged the ECB to implement a transfer system that gives counties greater financial reward for nurturing players.
Botham was speaking after the announcement that Durham's T20 captain Paul Coughlin will join Nottinghamshire on a three-year deal after rejecting a new contract at Emirates Riverside.
The 24-year-old, who will miss the rest of this campaign with a side strain, has joined Notts with the county on the verge of promotion back to Specsavers County Championship Division One.
"Despite offering Paul - a player we have nurtured through our academy system and someone we hold in extremely high regard - a very competitive contract extension, our devoted support during periods of injury, continuous development and leadership opportunities, the player has chosen to leave Durham," said Botham in a statement on the county's official website.
"I respect Paul's right to move clubs and understand that players at certain times in their careers may want to move on.
"However, it's without question that our second-division status, points penalties and difficult financial situation has created an opportunity for rival counties and intermediaries to unsettle players with promises of first-division cricket, greater England opportunities and immediate financial reward.
"It concerns me that the current arrangements within cricket do not reward counties that invest in academies and produce exciting young English players.
"It concerns me that the current arrangements within cricket do not reward counties that invest in academies and produce exciting young English players."
"The ECB is currently reviewing its partnership agreement with the counties and Durham will be making strong representations to properly reward those that invest in the development of local talent.
"They need to introduce a transfer or similar system of compensation, to remove the potential for conflict of interest by preventing serving directors of cricket acting as selectors and to better regulate the behaviour of agents."
Durham sit second-bottom in Divison Two following their 48-point deduction for accepting a financial bailout from the ECB and also suffered points penalties the NatWest T20 Blast and One-Day Cup.
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