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Photo of the new Chairman Mr. Arthur Carmalt.
Peter Higgs reported at length. Burnley C.C. Champions of the Lancashire League for the past two seasons are making 'a new start'. That was the message to emerge from the liveliest AGM for years on Monday night when sweeping changes were made in its organisation and hierarchy. By the end of the evening Burnley C.C. had a new President, a new chairman and vice chairman, a newly constituted general management committee. and Michael McLeod, newly elected president made an appeal for unity. He said: "In future we must have co-operation not confrontation, and decisions must have the agreement of the whole club. The days of us and them are over and this is a new start. It should have been made 10 years ago". The meeting presented a picture of a club whose unchallenged success on the field had been accompanied by simmering resentment behind the scenes. Not the least of their problems are debts amounting to more than £28,000. Members were immediately informed at the start of the meeting of the resignation of Tom Alston as chairman and also as a director. Mr. Alston who is chairman of the Lancashire League had submitted his resignation in writing after 21 years on the board, 19 of them as chairman. No reason was given but Mr. Alston was known to oppose the planned changes in the Burnley C.C. set up. He is succeeded as Chairman by Arthur Carmalt the previous Vice-Chairman who has been a director for 15 years. Director Roy Fell takes over as Vice-Chairman. The most significant change in the organisation was the formation of a 20 strong general management committee comprising players, shareholders and members. Its introduction is aimed at spreading power and decision making more widely and is a direct result of the "Mudassar affair" which rocked the club at the end of last season. A decision to fine professional Mudassar Nazar £200 led to an action group including first team players meeting with the directors to thrash out the future of Burnley CC which resulted in the new set-up being drawn up and accepted by a majority of directors. Mr. Riley paid tribute to Mr. Alston and Mr. McLeod to his predecessor Leonard Simpson who retired as president after 6 years. Mr. McLeod said that long standing divisions between players and officials had come to a head in the last match of the season. He paid tribute to Mudassar for his performance on the field and impeccable behaviour off it. Mr. McLeod ended by saying" I would rather us have to apply for re-election and my friends at Lowerhouse win the double than this new set-up not be a success. The club is more important." Elected to the management committee were : B. Bromley, A. Hicks, R. Harrison, J. Astin, W. Jeavons, W. Mason, C. Baguley, J. Halstead, R. Brigden, M. McLeod, R. Horsfall, M. Swift, N. Greenwood, D. Chadwick, G. Tattersall, A. Bushell, J. Stott, Mrs. R. Fell, Mrs. D. Riley, Miss E. Hargreaves. Milton Windle, who has been appointed chairman of the Cricket Committee urged members to help improve Turf Moor, which he described as the poorest in the League. Mr. McLeod also thanked the local press who had a job to do adding "The word ban is one that will never be used at this club."