Worcestershire announce small deficit but reduce debt

Worcestershire have announced a financial deficit for last year but have significantly reduced their debt.

Their operating loss for the year ending 31 December was £146,876.

But the club benefitted from almost £4m in income from the ECB's sale of The Hundred franchises.

ECB handouts also helped them drastically reduce their debt from almost £4m to less than £500,000 and they aim to be debt-free this year.

Worcestershire were relegated from Division One of the County Championship last season but won the One Day Cup for the first time in 31 years.

They continue to develop plans for an additional ground, with their New Road home continually affected by flooding.

Meanwhile, former Worcestershire seamer Paul Pridgeon will become the club's next president.

The 72-year-old has been associated with the county for more than 50 years and will take over from Phil Neale for a two-year term.