The Board of Middlesex County Cricket Club has commissioned an independent Governance Reform Programme as part of its commitment to ensuring that the Club’s governance arrangements remain effective, transparent and fit for the future.
The programme is being led by Joanna Coates, an experienced sports executive, Board director and governance specialist. Joanna has held a number of senior leadership positions in sport, including Chief Executive of UK Athletics and England Netball. She has also served as Senior Independent Director of the Rugby Football League and has led governance reform programmes, organisational reviews and strategic change projects across a range of sporting organisations.
The purpose of the programme is to consider how the Club’s governance arrangements can best support the future success of Middlesex Cricket. The work will focus on ensuring that governance structures are effective, proportionate and capable of supporting strong decision-making, accountability and member engagement.
The programme will consider a number of important areas, including:
Governance structures and decision-making arrangements;
Committee structures, roles and effectiveness;
Accountability and oversight arrangements;
Governance support for cricket performance;
Member engagement and communication;
Opportunities to strengthen transparency, trust and member involvement.
As well as an ECB-commissioned Board Effectiveness Review, being undertaken by Campbell Tickell, this programme will help the Club identify opportunities to strengthen governance arrangements and ensure they support the long-term success of Middlesex Cricket.
A key principle of the programme is that it is independent. Joanna has been asked to provide an objective assessment together with practical recommendations for the future. No conclusions have been reached, and the recommendations will be informed by the views and experiences of a wide range of stakeholders.
The programme is focused on the future governance of the Club rather than revisiting historic decisions or individual matters.
Over the coming weeks, Joanna will be meeting with committee members, Club representatives and other stakeholders. In addition, a number of members will be invited to participate in interviews and discussions to help inform the work. Subject to the outcomes of those discussions, a wider member survey may also be undertaken.
The objective is not simply to assess current arrangements but to develop practical recommendations, governance documentation and an implementation plan that can support the Club’s future development.
I would encourage members to engage positively with the programme should you be invited to participate.
Further updates will be provided as the work progresses.