MEMBERS attending Kent County Cricket Club's annual meeting at Canterbury heard an encouraging report from honorary treasurer Alister Dunning who announced improved, pre-tax profits of £51,725.

Mr Dunning explained that although the new Beckenham ground had proved a drain on resources in its first year, expenses had been generally well controlled in 2003.

He added that the club's improved finances were based largely on record gate receipts and improved marketing income.

However, Mr Dunning advised continued caution in club expenditure as they set out to repay Kent County Council's £500,000 interest free loan to finance improvement work to the Kent Cricket Academy.

He said: "We will have to plan carefully to pay back our capital expenditure over the next 10 years and shall strive to keep our budgets under control in order to repay this money."

With five candidates standing for three vacancies on the general committee, the meeting also heard the results of the members' postal ballot to decide the committee's make-up.

Chairman of cricket Mike Denness (825 votes), ex-Kent and England skipper Chris Cowdrey (730), and Lord's Taverners, author and management consultant Jo Rice (537) were elected for three years ahead of Mark Baker White (369) and Laurence Poole (134).

Presentations were made to former chairman and president Peter Edgley, who served 16 years on the committee, and David Turner, the co-opted KSCA representative since 1980, who both stood down.

Five small amendments to club constitution were also passed without opposition and the club's auditors, chartered accountants Larkings, were duly re-elected.

Out-going president, chairman of Faversham-based brewers Bobby Neame, was unable to attend the meeting through ill health, leaving Kent chairman Carl Openshaw to introduce the club's 2004 president Brian Luckhurst.

In accepting the post, Mr Luckhurst, after a warm reception, said: "That was more applause than I got in Melbourne in 1970 having just scored a hundred. I'm very, very honoured by this, perhaps the last chapter in my 50-year association with Kent Cricket Club.

"I only have one regret, which is 'The Master', Colin Cowdrey, isn't here to witness the proceedings. I think he would have been very pleased for me."

On the playing front, Mr Luckhurst's former opening partner Mike Denness, explained the club's stance over the departure of Mark Ealham, who has joined Nottinghamshire on a three-year deal after turning down Kent's offer of a one-year extension.

He said all players were assessed using his AMAPP factor, which takes into consideration Attitude, Motivation, Ability, Potential, Performance and value for money.

He said: "It was agreed, in consultation with the players, that one or two-year contracts with or without roll-on options would be the maximum on offer here. The exception being when a player is being brought in from another county and re-locating to Kent.

"The players all entered into this arrangement, but sadly we failed to convince Mark that he was a Kent lad though and through. We hoped to persuade Mark to end his playing days here, but the security of a Nottinghamshire three-year contract with options to renew was not something we could match.

"We wish him well and acknowledge the contribution he made over his 15 years with us."

Mr Denness added: "We must give Kent the best opportunity of winning in all forms of cricket. We must be competitive and we must have the right environment to develop home grown players."