Gubay Row Cost Lancs CCC £4m - Cumbes

THE cost of its long-running battle with Albert Gubay's Derwent Holdings cost Lancashire County Cricket CLub £4m, according to chief executive Jim Cumbes.

Cumbes said the club had spent £2m in legal fees going all the way to a judicual review with Gubay, who unsuccessfully tried to stop the club redeveloping its Old Trafford stadium.

"This has brought an end to 18 months of fighting, but it has taken its toll on the club."

Last week's news that the Ashes would return to the ground in 2013 had marked a 'special hat trick' along with the recent county championship.

It will be the first time Lancs has hosted the high profile series in eight years.

 “We are absolutely delighted to see the Ashes return to Old Trafford,” he said.

"This has brought an end to 18 months of fighting, but it has taken its toll on the club.

"It's cost us around £4m altogether but we estimate the Ashes should see us make a surplus of around £1m."

He also said the Ashes could bring in up to £1.6m for the local economy, while redeveloping Old Trafford will give the community access to new sporting facilities.

ECB chairman Giles Clarke said allocating major matches for the next 5 years will help clubs financially by providing certainty over their match programme. 

This will come as good news to LCCC as they look to secure their long-term financial future after announcing record losses in recent years.

The test matches at Old Trafford in 2014 and 2016 will be against India and Pakistan.