Otago back in the black after tight financial year

Otago Cricket has produced a $114,151 turnaround in its annual performance to end the financial year with a profit of $15,089.

Otago chief executive Graeme Elliott said it had taken some hard work and while the surplus was modest, it still represented a significant achievement.

New Zealand Cricket's grants were $50,000 down on the previous year and this fact made Otago's performance even more meritorious.

"We don't have the same opportunities several of the other major associations have.

"With a significant international programme three of the majors have huge opportunities through memberships and operations to generate finance," he said.

"If you've got an ongoing international programme you can really enhance your membership and hospitality opportunities.

"The answer is not to share around the internationals because we wouldn't get the crowds to justify it.

"I will be looking to talk with New Zealand Cricket at ways in which we can improve our situation," he said.

The surplus was achieved by a dramatic reduction in costs and Elliott admitted Otago ran one and a half people lighter than other associations.

"We've also geared up technology wise for efficiencies and different systems we have introduced have saved us time.

"We've put more into age group cricket. We cut back on the Otago Volts and put that money into age group development."

Another problem Otago has had is running a business with a turnover in excess of $1million while having no working capital.

One way Otago looked to improve that situation was to introduce its Club 20 scheme. This is intended to provide a capital base in excess of $200,000. At the moment it stands at $51,875 and Elliott is hopeful it will pass $100,000 this season.

He is also hopeful an upgrade can be managed at the Edgar Indoor Centre. Around $60,000 is intended to be spent relaying astrograss in the centre and making changes to better utilise the facility.