Canterbury joined Northern Districts as the only New Zealand cricket associations unable to record a surplus over the last year.

Canterbury's loss was $54,231, an increase of $21,077 on last year.

This was achieved with less total operating revenue from last year. This year the amount was $1,947,621, down $143,751 from last year.

Administration costs were up by $20,368 to $379,044 while, in line with other associations, coaching and development costs were up by $41,376 to $230,468.

Accumulated funds reflected the deficit and stand at $372,981.

Canterbury Cricket's board chairman David Shackleton commented in the annual report, to be presented to tomorrow night's annual meeting, that the board was very disappointed with the result.

"Unfortunately most of the costs of operating Canterbury Cricket are fixed or determined by outside influences, particularly the playing schedules for national competitions.

"To improve the financial position of the CCA it will be necessary to significantly increase revenue from all sources. The board and management have developed a strategic plan which focuses on all aspects of cricket in Canterbury, but with a significant focus on revenue improvement.

"This will be a key driver for the next and subsequent years," he said.

Canterbury's new chief executive, Richard Reid said the Association's strategic plan was now complete and continuous improvement should be seen as a result in all aspects of cricket administration in Canterbury.

"The districts have a special and unique place within cricket in Canterbury. I feel we have not taken advantage of this as much as we could have. I have spent considerable time with them since I have been here and I am committed to an inclusive philosophy so that all cricketers in Canterbury feel part of that process," he said.

On the playing side operations manager Trudy Anderson said the season of 2002/03 would be one to look forward as the result of plans put in place during the winter.

"The involvement of past players in think tanks in order to produce a unique Canterbury playing philosophy has been just one innovation to make the pathway consistent for players through representative grade.

"The women's high performance plan which resulted from a well-attended forum also highlights the direction for growth in the women's area. There is an intention to expand the Community Cricket Programme into more areas and the shift to Iversen Terrace will provide a long overdue indoor training facility for all of Canterbury," he said.

Meanwhile, as many sports lose the support of their volunteer core, Reid was impressed with Canterbury's volunteers.

"I have enjoyed meeting with the wide variety of stakeholders that make up the cricket fraternity in Canterbury and I am constantly amazed at the depth of the volunteer base and their willingness and ability to keep a myriad of 'balls in the air' at any given time," he said.

© CricInfo