Latest news with #MarkAlleyne
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Gloucestershire face mass exodus with nine players potentially heading for exit
Blast champions Gloucestershire are the non-Hundred host county most vulnerable to a raid on their playing squad from bigger clubs after English cricket's contracting window opened. From June 1 counties have been allowed to formally approach players in the last year of their contracts about a move next season. Gloucestershire reached June 1 with an unusually high number of players out of contract – nine. Among this group are Ajeet Singh Dale and Zaman Akhter, the exciting fast bowlers who played for England Lions this week, as well as promising all-rounder Tom Price, fast bowler Dom Goodman, and stalwart batsman Miles Hammond. The likes of Surrey and Lancashire are thought to be interested in Singh Dale and Akhter, while Price – who, like Goodman and Marchant de Lange, is currently injured – can expect a slew of suitors too. Gloucestershire have made contract offers to all the players, but they have chosen not to commit by June 1 in order to explore the market. It is highly unlikely that all nine will leave, and club officials are confident that a good number will sign extensions. In addition, Price's brother, the batting all-rounder Ollie, has another year remaining on his deal, but is thought to have a clause that could allow him to leave this year. It seems unlikely that he will, though. Under club legend Mark Alleyne, who joined as head coach ahead of the 2024 season, Gloucestershire have defied a tricky time to build an exciting squad. Last year, they won the T20 Blast for the first time, and they are in the hunt for promotion to Division One next season, sitting fourth in the table. Nevertheless, a chaotic couple of years off the field have resulted in players entering the final year of their contracts. In December 2023, Telegraph Sport revealed that Gloucestershire were considering selling their historic Nevil Road Ground – their home since the days of WG Grace in 1889 – to developers and moving to a site outside Bristol. This would allow the club to bank up to £40 million for the city centre site, then diversify their business at an out-of-town venue in the manner that Hampshire have with the Utilita Bowl, which as well as two cricket ovals has hotels, a golf course and conferencing and events facilities. While the move is not imminent, Gloucestershire announced in April this year that they had signed a non-binding heads of terms agreement for a site at Swanmoor Stoke, which is situated between Severn Beach and Patchway in the north-west outskirts of Bristol. Such a move would help alleviate financial concerns at the club. In the last three sets of annual accounts, Gloucestershire's losses are £570,000 (2022), £1.2 million (2023), and £414,000 (2024). After losing Beau Webster and Zafar Gohar to other counties this winter, Gloucestershire signed Cameron Green. That represented a real coup, but the deal was funded by a generous member. There was major administrative churn in 2024, too. Chairman David Jones was removed by the members at the 2024 AGM, and long-standing chief executive Will Brown stepped down a few months later. At a similar time, the local business Arron Banks – one of the 'bad boys of Brexit' – launched a bid to take control of the club, which fizzled out. Eventually Neil Priscott was promoted to replace Brown, while Peter Matthews stepped in as chair and the pair appear to be bringing some welcome stability. It is increasingly common for players to move from so-called smaller counties to wealthier Test grounds. That trend could be accelerated in the coming years, with host venues taking control of their Hundred teams, potentially widening the gap between the haves and have-nots. Each non-host county is in line to receive a one-off payment in excess of £25 million when the Hundred deal is completed. However, there are guardrails from the England and Wales Cricket Board in place for how that money is used, such as paying down debt and improving infrastructure – Gloucestershire's new ground could be an example of the latter. It is not designed to pay players more. The perceived attractions of bigger counties are not only that they are able to pay players more, but also provide better facilities for training, while deeper squads mean their workloads can be managed better. Gloucestershire are not alone in being vulnerable to a raid. Kent have three key young players out of contract: batsman Tawanda Muyeye, all-rounder Joey Evison and fast bowler Nathan Gilchrist. It is thought that around half the counties could be interested in signing Muyeye, who was born in Zimbabwe but will qualify for England in the next couple of years. Essex made a statement by securing Sam Cook's signature, and it is thought that all-rounder Paul Walter, who has done well opening the batting in the County Championship this year, is close to following. Of their key players, Michael Pepper remains out of contract. A pair of loaned-out all-rounders could leave Somerset, too. Ben Green has spent the Championship campaign on loan at Leicestershire, and could leave Taunton in search of more red-ball opportunities. England Lions all-rounder Kasey Aldridge has gone on loan to Durham for the Blast, which would appear to make them favourites to sign him if he left Somerset. Somerset also have bowlers Jake Ball and Josh Davey out of contract, while it seems inevitable that the England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir will leave the club, where he sits behind Jack Leach. With England, that pecking order is inverted.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Alleyne explains decision to play football over cricket
How does the son of an international cricketer end up being a professional footballer?Manchester City defender Max Alleyne played a pivotal role in the club's Premier League 2 title win this season and collected the elite development squad's player of the year Alleyne name might be familiar to those who watched cricket in the 1990s, as Max's dad Mark - an all-rounder - featured in 10 one day internationals for how he ended up in football, Max told BBC Sport: "He was never pushy with what I did and wanted to do. I really enjoyed football growing up."It's that sport mentality, my mum is a nutritionist as well so from the get-go I had the right advice and right food going in me. It made it easier to transition into professional sport."For me it's easy to switch off. When I go home and leave the training ground I can switch off. Not think about football as well, it's important to have that time to yourself and go again."Max says he prefers watching golf rather than cricket, which his dad may be "fuming" with, and never had to choose which sport he wanted to take added: "I never really played cricket, I was from quite a small village so there was never really the opportunity. I just played football. I loved it so kept playing."The 19-year-old was linked with a move to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in about his future, he said: "We will see. Hopefully playing for this club - there's a pathway to the first team from the academy"I've got to go away, hopefully go on the Club World Cup trip and show the manager what I can do."
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Gloucestershire sign Australia's Short for Blast
Australia batter D'Arcy Short has joined Gloucestershire for the defending champions' 2025 T20 Blast left-hander, who can also bowl spin, has played for his country in both white-ball formats and has twice been named 'Player of the Tournament' in Australia's Big averages just over 30 with the bat for Australia in his 23 one-day international and T20 appearances for his has previously had spells in the Indian Premier League with Rajasthan Royals and the Trent Rockets in The Hundred, as well as having played for Durham and Hampshire in past Blast campaigns."What a player to be joining us at this exciting time," Gloucestershire head coach Mark Alleyne told the club website., external"He brings a batting versatility with him, being brilliantly effective from one to six and offering spin options in the power play and middle."D'Arcy compliments everything we are about and we can't wait to get him on board."Short will be available for the entire Blast group stage.
