RECORD floods at New Road have contributed to Worcestershire County Cricket Club sinking to an overall loss of £114,618 during the past year.

The figure includes a £38,187 trading deficit for last season.

County members will be told officially of the hefty price the club have paid for severe ground flooding at their annual meeting in the King's School, Worcester, theatre, on Monday, February 11 (7pm).

After the worst floods in more than 50 years it was a race against the clock for Worcestershire's groundstaff to get New Road ship-shape in time for last season's opening match.

Not for the first time a helicopter was used to hover over the pitch and aid the drying-out process. Re-turfing an area of the outfield, which had been badly affected by silt, was also carried out.

The continuing rain led to the County playing a couple of matches at Kidderminster's Chester Road headquarters.

The annual report also reveals that the departure of a number of "familiar faces" from New Road has contributed significantly to the club's overall deficit.

County treasurer Peter Seward said: "Our trading loss was broadly in line with expectations but we had to make some hard decisions during the year to ensure we could strengthen our playing squad for 2002.

"Subscriptions and gate receipts showed an encouraging increase on the previous year and commercial revenue stood up well to the previous year's record performance.

"The catering operation recorded a 45 per cent increase in profits which reflects the increasing importance to the club of non-cricket related commercial activity.

"The results would have been much worse without the wonderful help from the friends and supporters of the club who raised over £55,000 for the Flood Appeal."

Seward, however, reports that the prospects for 2002 "look healthier".

He said: "A leaner administration and a more effective system of governance has enabled the club to recruit new players whilst producing a balanced budget for the year.

"Beyond that the new TV deal for cricket comes into effect in 2003 so the prospect of a return to positive financial results is a probability in the near future."

At the annual meeting members will be asked to elect former New Road secretary Michael Vockins as a life member of the club following his retirement in June after 30 years in the post.

The committee also recommends the election of Mike Jones as president.