Wednesday 7 September 2011

Adieu to Amott

For the last couple of weeks or so I have had a good few texts and e mails suggesting that Don Amott was leaving the club committee. With nothing emanating from the club it seemed inappropriate to start a hare around the park, especially while cricket was still being played.

Like most of you I was shocked and disappointed when the news of his resignation as Chairman broke last Spring, at a time when we were all looking forward to a new season. Maybe it wouldn't have been a close season without some form of blood-letting at the club, something that was all too familiar to those of us who have followed their fortunes over any reasonable period.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of what went on - and in such cases there are usually faults on both sides - the club has moved on and Chris Grant has done a sterling job since taking over the reins. No doubt he would have wished for an easier baptism and would have been happy to be a committee member for some time before logically taking over down the line, but life is like that.

Realistically, although he later changed his mind and retained his place on the committee, few could have seen Don Amott as a peripheral figure in the club in the long term, having been an outstanding figurehead for a number of years. Under him a lot of ground improvements took place and the club became more streamlined financially. Cricket returned to Chesterfield and fans were reassured that the man with his hand on the tiller was himself a big fan and someone who knew business.

Health problems for both himself and his wife were a setback and this is probably the right time for Don to make a break from the club. He still runs a successful business and probably owes his family more time. That he has asked for the repayment on existing loans suggests that all is not sweetness and light and I would doubt he will return to any day to day involvement in the club, but any suggestions that this will be a problem for the club are wide of the mark.

Chris Grant has said that the loan can be repaid from cash flow, which is encouraging, while the club's increasing profile in corporate circles, not least due to Chris Grant's own contacts, suggests that new sponsorship deals for shirts, boundary boards and initiatives will not be lacking. Perhaps we may see Peter Gadsby involved to a greater extent and the club will not fold, despite what some might say to the contrary. Grant is himself a businessman of brilliance, as one would have to be to make the money he has at such a young age.

Indeed, this year's finances should show a fairly robust operation, which under the new chairman should go from strength to strength. I am sure that will be the case, but I am equally sure that everyone involved in Derbyshire cricket will acknowledge that we owe Don Amott a sincere debt of gratitude.

I hope that he enjoys a long and happy retirement and we will at some point see him on the boundary edge once more.

5 comments:

  1. Sounds to me like he,s taken a mardy tablet. I would agree he has done some good work in the past but im afraid his stubborn stance on John Morris was the beginning of the end. Let,s get him paid off,if that,s what he wants and move on. Chris Grant is the right man at the right time.

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  2. Mardy tablet... love thst comment!

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  3. Marc, come on! Don has done brilliant for the club. No one stays for ever. He had plenty of reasons for leaving a I wish him well.
    Ben

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  4. I wish him well, i just don,t see him as the Messiah like some others do. It was probably unfortunate his reign coincided with poor performances on the pitch and financial meltdown off it. When you,re in charge you have to take responsibility.

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  5. i wish Don well, just look at the mess we were in when he took over, he said at the beginning of the year that last years loss was a one off due to the world cup, he and Loring set the budgets to take us back into profit, so well done, just take a look at ground now, Chris Grant , he as done nothing yet, lets hope he can carry on the good work,

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