Weston Saint

It is reported their bid was £2m. Hampshire's Commercial Manager, Zak has reported to the press that whilst ticket sales were disappointing it was not a problem for the club. I will likely know more late next week

It is wdely thought that RoseBowlplc paid in excess of £1m for the Test Match. I am not sure if they have insured against any refunds. As yesterday was over 25 overs no refund is due. Today they are a couple of overs short so 50% refund available. Ticket sales were very disappointing but just enough to avoid any major financial problems I am led to believe. As far as corporate & food concerned the Rosebowl sold the franchise with a decent profit % coming back.

Geoff, we all know that Cortese and the club keep things quiet until the deal is done and announced on the Official Site. May be this quote on transfer window in English Football is the reason nothing yet anounced. In England, the transfer window formally opens on 1 July, transfers between clubs in the same association can take place as soon the last competitive fixtures for the season have been played. However, many transfers will not be completed until 1 July because many players' contracts expire on 30 June

Yes you can as you will have found out by now

Steve McLaren says his appointment as the team conductor on the bus is just the ticket to build a platform to drive them on their journey to that shown on the destination board “the Premiership”. There will be stops along the way but no room for any passengers.

I am now hearing Afridi will join us next week. NOC reinstated

A compromise between the PCB and former captain Shahid Afridi is likely following a meeting between the board chairman Ijaz Butt and Afridi in Islamabad, bringing to an end one of the biggest player-board disputes in recent memory in Pakistan. "I did meet Afridi in Islamabad but I cannot say any more than that at the moment," Butt told ESPNcricinfo. He refused to indicate if the meeting had an outcome or whether there was an announcement to be expected. A statement from the board later said no further announcements will be made. Speculation indicated that through this agreement, Afridi will be given the No Objection Certificates he needs to play for Hampshire and later in the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL). In return, he will withdraw the petition he filed in the Sindh High Court against the board's decision to form a disciplinary committee, cancel his central contract and revoke his NOC and will face any punishment the committee hands out. In effect, the situation appears to have returned to when Afridi first replied to the board's showcause notice, in which he accepted violating the code of conduct and expressed a willingness to face a hearing if his NOC was reinstated. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 16 at the Sindh High Court and Afridi could withdraw his petition then. The meeting is believed to have been the result of intervention of senior political figures; from the start the dispute took on a political character. Afridi had appealed directly to Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari, who is the chief patron of the board, to resolve the situation. He had met Zardari's son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in London and had spoken to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as well on the matter. Rehman Malik, the interior minister and mediator in past disputes, also got involved, promising on Twitter to find a solution. The flurry of activity prompted the PCB to issue a rare statement expressing displeasure at the political interference, compelling Butt to tell a local newspaper of his exasperation at the number of phone calls he had received on the matter. Advisors close to Afridi are also believed to have tried convincing him to reach a compromise with an administration under whom he has publicly said he will not play again, after having been removed as ODI captain in May. Though Afridi was unconvinced at first, the possibility of losing out on the Twenty20 stint with Hampshire - who were looking at Chris Gayle as a replacement option - forced his hand. "We've remained hopeful all along, and we are very hopeful that an announcement can be made soon," Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire's chairman, told ESPNcricinfo. "But we cannot say anything more definitive beyond that at this stage. "We had to look at all contingency options, and Chris Gayle's name was one of those names that came into the frame," Bransgrove said. "But we have remained hopeful all along that Afridi would receive clearance to join us for the remainder of the Twenty20 campaign." Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of ESPNcricinfo; additional reporting by Andrew Miller, ESPNcricinfo's UK editor

So if Saints had confirmed in April (when most other clubs announced season ticket prices) that they were going to change the concession rate from 60 to 65 most of those complaining about the lack of communication from the club would have accepted the position? I appreciate the change has come hard to some and I accept the club should have communicated why they decided not to phase it in but what of those 50-59 who are not working? They do not get their state pension until 65 (They get fuel allowance and bus pass when they are 60 unless that changes). Why should those 60-64 who are in a similar position get a consession when they are in the same position as the example I have quoted. Just because you have done something before does not mean you have a god given right to continue when your circumstances have changed. For the record I am 59 in August and "retired" although I do have a good private pension so not in the same unfortunate state as some posting on here. A question for Andoverian. Did you not pay a full rate to see Saints in the Premier? Was the concession not 65 then? I am told it was although I appreciate you were not within the 60 -64 bracket then). If we had still been in the Premier woulld you have been able to afford it now your age and circumstances have changed? I am not having a dig. I am trying to get you to look at the full picture. I appreciate we are not in the Premier but that is not the issue. Your affordability is the issue.

Love the highlighted bit.

He made 7 appearances for the reserves 2001-2002 and scored twice

What a load of rubbish! If Arsenal wanted Chamberlain they would not be worried about a 40% sell on clause. They will want to play him in due course, not use him as a business commodity to sell on for business profit. It is more likely the stumbling block was a £10m up front payment, no add ons but with a sell on clause. But what do I know! Or the papers!

No one seems to have been able to answer my earlier post! Look back to the time we were relegated to the Championship and the price you paid for a season ticket then. Add on inflation and increase in vat. Are you so far away from what you are being asked to pay next season. Forget the change in age concession, that is not the issue. Also was it not 65 and above at that time?

In the CB 40 game against Surrey he was striding down the wicket hitting a couple of 6's. Got beaten by one from Schofield, tried to turn to avoid a stumping and damaged his calf. Has been fit since beginning of T20 competition and had a couple of warm up innings in recent 2nd eleven T20 friendlies. Just cannot get back into the side at present but is travelling with the team and in the squad.

Plan B I am afraid might happen. That will be job losses across the council. Those areas where agreement has already been reached may have to be reversed. An alternative answer? Bin collections every 2 weeks with the reduction in staff falling in that area. Last in first out will save a fair bit in redundency payments as well. The Government have put a freeze on Council Tax to force the authorities to look for cutbacks and slimline services. We might not like it but the same is happening in the private sector and has been for years. I have sympathy with anyone asked to take a cut in pay BUT the alternative is job losses. Perhaps this council should have made a decision to cut jobs. They have tried a kinder way. Now they just may have to be more aggressive.

Nothing wrong with the wicket. Absolutely no chance of an ECB investigation

The Pakistan court have deferred the hearing until 16th June. I am not aware of any replacement being sought but we seem to be doing ok without so why spend money to fix something not broken!

Tahir is in Johannesburg today, where he has been nominated to win the SA Newcomer of the Year award as well as two domestic awards; SuperSport Series Cricketer of the Year and MTN40 Cricketer of the Year. He will be available for the next game against Gloucestershire

Tahir rested for game against Glamorgan tomorrow! I expect that is SA insisting he does not get over used.

Really? Do you not understand what we need in central midfield? Your judgement is better than that Hopkins I will give you an example Last season Cork 36 starts plus 4 Subs 3 goals 2 assists - Shots 19 on target 15 off. Last season Schneiderlin - 23 starts 4 subs no goals 1 assist - 7 shots on target 14 off See the problem of playing both? Our central midfield has gone missing too often. We will not get away with that in the Championship

It was a game before the real competition starts and a chance to impress the Manager, particularly as he was not first choice. Did nothing to suggest he "wanted it" I am sure he is a decent player but is he right for us in a central midfield position if he does nothing more than play safe!

Look back to the time we were relegated to the Championship and the price you paid for a season ticket then. Add on inflation and increase in vat. Are you so far away from what you are being asked to pay next season. Forget the change in age concession, that is not the issue. Also was it not 65 and above at that time? It will be sad if we lose long standing supporters but think this through and stop blaming Cortese. The prices were artificially low for the last two seasons. It is just a case of redressing the balance.

I said today that if Lallana had played he would not have looked out of place and probably show some of these "Premier players" up.

Bearing in mind most of these players have Premier experience I was disappointed as well Steve.

Only on for the second half but I saw nothing from him to suggest he is better than we have.

The runs came in over 3 and 4 28 off each with Lumb and Adams each helping themselves to 4 sixes All over when Dimi went for only 9 in first over and even better Jones in second taking 2 for 2