Glamorgan County Cricket Club have taken an imaginative step in their latest appointment, with the recruitment of Tony Ball as the club`s first Development Director.

His role will be to assist the highly successful marketing team in ensuring the financial well-being of the Club but more importantly, to attract investment for the further development of the ground and its facilities.

Tony has a broad experience in both business and education having been a Company Sales Director, Deputy Headmaster, and for the past eleven years, Vice Principal of Cardiff's Tertiary College, Coleg Glan Hafren. Until this appointment he was also Managing Director of the College's very successful training and consultancy company, Cardiff College Enterprises Ltd.

"It's old hat to say that this is an exciting new challenge," said Tony, "but in this case it is certainly true. Having been a long time Glamorgan supporter, I still find the changes that have occurred over the past few years truly incredible. Not only do we own the head lease on the Sophia Gardens ground, but the new indoor centre and the large and extremely loyal membership are the envy of most counties."

However, he is well aware of the problems associated with attracting sponsorship. "There are so many competing organisations but I think we have something special at Glamorgan", he continued. "The almost daily coverage we get in local and national press throughout the season gives the Club a very high profile even without the ever increasing television and radio coverage which adds up to many hours throughout the year. Glamorgan really represents Wales in the first class game and I feel confident that there are individuals and companies that will recognise this and also the outstanding opportunities that exist for their own promotion. The infrastructure is in place and all we need now are benefactors who have the vision to see the kudos that can be gained from entering into partnership with the Club".

Mike Fatkin, Chief Executive of Glamorgan Cricket commented, "the true potential of the Club is there for all to see: a huge membership, first division County Championship cricket next season as well as an exciting one day international with the world champions Australia playing Pakistan. The one area of concern is the demand our success is placing on the existing facilities. We considered the creation of the post of Development Director essential to realise our ambition of being a truly international cricket ground and the centre of excellence for cricket in Wales".

© Glamorgan CCC