Shropshire's Gang of Four stand firm to win the day
Shropshire has a new 'Gang of Four' selectors for the senior county team – but it took a lengthy debate to get them into office.
New county president John Coxill, Mick Jones, Derek Wright and Peter Bound were the quartet eventually elected at the county association's AGM, with new deputy president Mike Potter to act as chairman with the casting vote.
Jones was one of the original 'Gang of Four' who promised and delivered Shropshire's long-awaited second Crosfield Cup triumph in 2009 – and their successors feel they will give bowlers from all parts of the county an even better chance of being noticed.
"With Mick covering the Mid Shropshire area, Peter in Shrewsbury, John in South Shropshire and myself in North Shropshire, we feel this is fair representation of the whole county," stressed Wright.
"We have already had several meetings to discuss things, we want to be a 'Gang of Four' and we want to try and put a side together to win the Crosfield Cup – it's as simple as that."
But it was the role of Coxill and the nomination of Telford-based Phil King, one of the men who came to the senior team's rescue last year when it had no selectors, that sparked debate at Shrewsbury's Reman Club.
King, a long established Shropshire junior team selector, was not present due to work but made it known that he wished to continue in a senior selection role too.
And many, including past county presidents Mike Hinton and Terry Sambrook, questioned whether Coxill, as the new president, could indeed be a selector at the same time.
For the current county rules state: "At intervals of three years the AGM shall appoint a selection sub-committee of the Association President and four others".
Various comprises, including either Coxill or King serving as chairman of the selectors, were rejected as the new 'Gang of Four' stuck to their guns of being elected.
In the end chairman Barry Jennings put two proposals to the meeting to vote on.
The new 'Gang of Four' with Potter as chairman gained 40 votes while the four plus King in the chair – with possible changes to county rules to considered for next year's AGM – received just 18.
Coxill was later formally nominated as county president, in succession to Oswestry's John Hughes.
"I must be a glutton for punishment as this will be third time I have been president – the first was 24 years ago and the second 17 years ago – and their won't be a fourth time, I can guarantee that!" said Coxill.
"I have been bowling since 1968 and everything I do is aimed at being for the benefit of Shropshire bowls."
