CHAIRMAN John Elliott has warned that Worcestershire must improve their facilities at New Road to survive county cricket's 'crunch day'.

He aired his views to County members at their annual meeting last night during a discussion on a proposed new stand at the Diglis end of the ground.

The scheme will go before Worcester City Council's planning committee again on Thursday after councillors deferred any decision at a meeting last December.

The County were asked to go back to the drawing board because of concerns about the proposed stand blocking the view of Worcester Cathedral.

Elliott said: "We reported at the County members' forum last year that we had a planning application for a new stand.

"It's been a troublesome road with the planners but I'm pleased to say that on Thursday we are very much hoping we'll get permission."

He added that members only saw a mock-up of the proposed construction, but "we have had to change that tremendously and we've had to re-site the stand.

"I've had a letter from the Civic Society congratulating us on our design and the re-siting of it. They are all for it.

"Thursday is a big day. I think it's most important the club get planning permission. We have a three-year plan as well which shows other improvements on the ground that I feel are necessary. The future of the club is in our hands and we must go forward."

Elliott stressed the County needed to improve ground facilities "because there's going to be a crunch in county cricket one day".

He referred to suggestions that the County Championship could at some stage be reduced to possibly 12 first-class counties.

"If it ever happens we must improve our facilities. It's essential we all work together to achieve this."

Worcestershire chief executive Mark Newton said details of the new plans, which allays fears of blocking the Cathedral view, would be circulated to members in early April.

During last night's meeting Norman Whiting took over as club president in place of Mike Jones, whose two-year term in office has come to an end.

Former player Martin Horton was added to the list of vice-presidents while Peter Seward was re-elected treasurer.

As reported previously, the County suffered a pre-tax loss of £41,000 on their workings last season.