THE Kent Cricket Board are searching for the most progressive and pro-active junior clubs in the county to become part of their new select Focus Club support scheme.

The Board, based at Kent's headquarters in Canterbury, have launched their initiative by describing the plan as the most significant change in the development of cricket clubs ever to be undertaken in the county.

In a bid to pool England and Wales Cricket Board resources and support cricket clubs more effectively, the KCB wants to identify 48 clubs across the county to forge a closer development programme over the next three years.

The Focus Clubs selected will be those best placed to deliver KCB objectives for club cricket, particularly in terms of youth development.

Once picked, each of the 48 clubs will receive priority treatment in terms of accessing resources, advice on volunteering opportunities, grant aid, equipment, coaching, talent identification and progression, match play, administration, child welfare and other areas of club development aimed at improving overall standards.

In return, the 48 Focus Clubs must gain ‘ClubMark’ accreditation to produce and implement the KCB’s development plan.

In launching the Focus scheme, chairman of KCB, Chris Swadkin, said: “In order to provide a quality service to clubs we have had to prioritise our efforts.

“Initially, we identify the clubs we feel we can best work with and these clubs will benefit from a much closer relationship with KCB and the ECB than ever before.

"The KCB will not stop supporting the hundreds of other recreational cricket clubs, but the Focus Clubs will be our priority.

“This will, in time, make a real difference to the recreational game."

In explaining the selection process that will go into picking the 48 focus clubs, the KCB’s director of cricket development Jamie Clifford said: “We feel 48 clubs is a number that is manageable and a figure we feel we can give appropriate support to.

“The spread will be even across the county, essentially three per local authority, but there may have to be some fluctuation in numbers and it may be that Lewisham ends up with one focus club and Thanet four.

“There is one selection criteria in the first instance - a desire within a club to develop the game in the best possible way.

“Every club has differing strengths and appetite for cricket development and every club will be taken on their merits.

“This might be what they offer to the community, or the standard of cricket they offer.

“The initial selection process is a registration of interest from the club which must happen by December 17.

“This will allow us to narrow the field and to see if applicant clubs meet the criteria of our ClubMark in terms of acting effectively and in a child-friendly and safe manner.”

Club’s wanting more information on the KCB Focus Support Scheme should contact Jamie Clifford by email at: jamie.clifford.kent@ecb.co.uk or phone 01227 456886. Clubs have until December 17 to register their interest.