Durham face relegation if ECB impose points deduction

Durham could face the prospect of a points deduction, and possible relegation, as a consequence of receiving financial support from the ECB during the 2016 season that finished last week.

In spite of a troubled summer off the field, Durham retained their Division One status thanks to a strong finish to the season, including back-to-back victories in their final two games over Surrey and Hampshire, who were relegated alongside Nottinghamshire.

However, to retain their viability, the club had to call upon assistance from the ECB – including an accelerated annual fee payment, as well as the rescheduling of their £923,000 staging fee for the third Test against Sri Lanka in May – to help service debts to the local council, believed to be in the region of £5-6 million.

Now, according to a report in The Times, the ECB is considering whether to impose a penalty on Durham as punishment. A points deduction would appear to be the only realistic sanction available to the board, given that a financial penalty would merely exacerbate the club’s …

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