Shropshire Star

Durham chairman Sir Ian Botham frustrated as Paul Coughlin joins Nottinghamshire

Sunderland-born Coughlin captained the Durham Jets T20 team this season.

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Durham chairman Sir Ian Botham has voiced his frustration after seeing Paul Coughlin reject a new contract at his hometown club in favour of joining Nottinghamshire.

The 24-year-old academy graduate, who will not play again this season due to a side strain, has turned down fresh terms at Durham to sign a three-year deal at Trent Bridge.

Nottinghamshire are close to securing promotion from Specsavers County Championship Division Two, where Durham sit second bottom following a 48-point deduction for accepting a financial bailout from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last October.

And seeing Sunderland-born Coughlin, Durham Jets’ T20 captain this term, leave the Emirates Riverside has upset Botham.

The former England all-rounder has called for the ECB to make major changes, including introducing a proper transfer system to prevent clubs from losing local talent without financial reward.

Botham said in a strong statement on the club’s official website: “Despite offering Paul – a player we have nurtured through our academy system and someone we hold in extremely high regard – a very competitive contract extension, our devoted support during periods of injury, continuous development and leadership opportunities; the player has chosen to leave Durham.

“I respect Paul’s right to move clubs and understand that players at certain times in their careers may want to move on, however, it’s without question that our second-division status, points penalties and difficult financial situation has created an opportunity for rival counties and intermediaries to unsettle players with promises of first-division cricket, greater England opportunities and immediate financial reward.

“It concerns me that the current arrangements within cricket do not reward counties that invest in academies and produce exciting young English players.

“The ECB is currently reviewing its partnership agreement with the counties and Durham will be making strong representations to properly reward those that invest in the development of local talent.

“They need to introduce a transfer or similar system of compensation, to remove the potential for conflict of interest by preventing serving directors of cricket acting as selectors and to better regulate the behaviour of agents.”

Nottinghamshire were earlier dealt a blow with the news that paceman Mark Footitt would miss the rest of the season with a neck problem.

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