OVER recent weeks, several Somerset Cricket Club members have come forward to the County Gazette with some issues to do with the current situation at the club.

These included queries over the commercial operations at the club, communication between the club and its members, the treatment of members and the work at Gimblett’s Hill.

We took these anonymously submitted queries and issues to Somerset Cricket Club CEO Gordon Hollins.

To start, we asked him about the operations at the club after a member reported to us a sense of distance between the club and its member’s base.

Hollins said: “There have been staff shortages post Covid across the country and Somerset and cricket are not immune to that.

“I acknowledge that has had an effect on some of our members and fans at Somerset matches, however I have received far more positive reports than negative.”

“Of course, we have had issues, no sports club in the country hasn’t had issues. While hopefully, Covid is easing in terms of its strength and number of people being infected, club’s like ours are now living with its impact. The hospitality industry is particularly effected.

"However, we want to get better on all fronts, and we will.

“I am so proud of our workforce here at Somerset, all our people give their all here to provide fans and members an enjoyable experience on matchdays and in regular communications.”

The conversation moved onto communications between the club and its fans and members, to which Hollins said he is looking to right any wrongs.

This was brought up due to members telling the County Gazette about their upset over the club's failure to answer e-mails and telephone enquiries.

“We want to resolve all issues that may have arisen.

“I would like to engage more, when I first started, it was not long after that Covid began, now that we can really plan events and meet people, we are doing our all to engage with the fans and members more.”

He would go on to say: “We are of course a member’s club, and our new governance reflects that.

“We must make sure we find a good balance; a balance between being a member’s club and good stewardship, which includes ensuring our finances are robust.

“Otherwise, the club will not grow. The club must evolve; however, one doesn’t work without the other.”

In terms of Gimblett’s Hill, Gordon Hollins addressed the timing of the development during the season.

“We aimed to do this at the end of last season however there was no financial certainty to make a commitment to the project before Christmas due to the wave of Covid which was rampant at the time, as well as the timetable being disrupted by supply issues.

“Once it is finished, the Gimblett’s Hill facility will be the best in class possibly across all sport in the country. Our facilities with provisions for people with additional needs were unacceptable, a disgrace really and now it is a high priority to keep improving this.”

Finally, Hollins encouraged the Somerset members to go directly to himself and the club with any future issues or questions.

“I encourage all our members to come to our members forums to discuss any issues they may have, that is what the forums are for. I welcome feedback of all kinds; people can email in queries or issues as well as speaking to us in person at the forums.”