Recipe for Disaster = Geoffrey Boycott

Geoffrey Boycott has labelled Yorkshire’s financial situation “a recipe for disaster” as he seeks a place on the club’s board.

The former captain is one of four candidates standing for election to the board at Headingley but is alone among them in being labelled ‘Not recommended by board’ on the voting form sent to club members.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: “It’s just disappointing, isn’t it? I’m not trying to cause any problems, create any trouble.

“I want to help the club… I’ve been with it 60 years. I think somebody has to speak up for the members.

“The debt has gone from £5m in 2002 to £24m in 12 years. So the businessmen on the board haven’t done a very good job, have they?

“We can’t go on borrowing money – £24m is huge... that’s a recipe for disaster.”

Boycott previously served on the board between 2007 and 2012 before becoming club president for two years.

Another former Yorkshire and England batsman, Michael Vaughan, renewed his call for Boycott to end his bid to return to the corridors of power.

“I like it when he says he’s not trying to cause any trouble,” said Vaughan. “Well, he is. He’s certainly done that.

“He’s passionate, I love him to bits, but he’s 75 years of age. Come on Geoffrey, go and have a game of golf!

“Geoffrey has been on that board – I believe in his time the debt rose by 60%.

“I don’t see what he’s going to do on the board that could improve that £24m debt. I just think (the argument is) sad… it’s boring, isn’t it?”

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Yorkshire Chairman Boycott's Return

Yorkshire chairman Steve Denison has asked club members not to back Geoffrey Boycott's return to the board of directors.

Former England opener Boycott made 609 first-class appearances for Yorkshire and was president from 2012 to 2014.

The 75-year-old does not hold a board position, but acts informally as an overseas ambassador for the club.

"We want individuals with skills that can guarantee the survival of the club," Denison told BBC Radio Leeds.

Denison, who succeeded Colin Graves in March last year, added: "We are saying no on the back of stability.

"The success we have had in the last two seasons has been on the back of a very stable board and a very stable management team all pointing in the same direction.

"He's a boyhood hero of mine - I invaded the pitch aged 13 when he got his 100th hundred at Headingley - but the problem we face at the moment is the club has been in serious financial difficulty for a long time, propped up by Colin Graves.

"We've had to refinance both this year and try and lay foundations for the immediate future when we have to build a new stand.

"We need specialist skills on our board in relation to finance and construction - and that's the direction of the board over the next few years."

Boycott's return to the board would need to be approved by the club members at the annual general meeting on 26 March.

He received 91.09% of the vote when he was voted club president in 2012.

"Irrespective of the outcome of the member vote, there will be no acrimony involved," added Denison. "We will work with Geoffrey if he gets elected.

"Geoffrey does an excellent job supporting the club when he's on his travels around the world and we want him to do that again. There is nobody better."

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Boycott Says Alastair is Complete Cook

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott says Alastair Cook looks like a "complete player" following his second successive one-day international ton.

Cook is the first England captain to achieve the feat, adding 102 to his career-best 137 from Monday, as the tourists beat Pakistan by 20 runs.

Boycott said: "It was totally different to how he played in the Test matches.

"His feet are moving well, he's getting right forward and right back. He seems to have a wider range of shot."

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast, Boycott added: "He is driving through the covers and punching the ball off the back foot.

"He looks like the complete player so you start to think why didn't he play like that in when you needed 140 to win the Test in Abu Dhabi?"

Victory in Abu Dhabi gave England a 2-0 series lead and the tourists now head to Dubai for the third one-day international where they will look to tie up the four-match series.

The tourists endured a torrid time in preceding Test series, slumping to a 3-0 series defeat.

However, Cook finally got England back to winning ways in the first one-day international at the Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, as his sublime 137 underpinned a comprehensive 130-run victory.

And two days later, Cook was dropped on 28 but anchored the innings again in calm fashion with 10 fours in 102 from 121 balls.

All matches are day-night; ODIs start at 1100 GMT, T20s at 1600

He said: "To score two hundreds in a row doesn't happen very often in any form of cricket.

"Obviously I'm delighted and, with a little bit of luck along the way, thankfully I made it count.

"But you're not quite so bothered about your own batting as captain because you're thinking about the team.

"We've been saying all along you don't become bad players overnight. It's important when you do get a little bit of a run you cash in. I'm delighted I managed to do that.

"With [Shahid] Afridi in, they were in the game because seven-an-over is nothing, but we held our nerve and stayed calm.

"It was a big difference from what we have done. Everyone contributed to a really good team performance, a really good win."