FOR services to cricket Durham would be hard pushed to find a more dedicated man than their acting chairman Bob Jackson.

Like Colin Milburn, the county's most famous cricketing son, he comes from Burnopfield and among many other positions he has held in the game he has been chairman of his local club, Lintz, for 30 years.

While he doesn't share Milburn's capacity for drink, he is a man of similar good humour who possesses more than enough of the common touch to ensure good relations with the members.

Moaning members had to shoulder the blame when Bill Midgley resigned after almost four years as chairman, and there have been few signs of recrimination.

I overheard one observing: "What we need is a chairman with lots of money," to which his colleague replied: "Aye, like that Russian at Chelsea."

As a former personnel manager with the National Coal Board, 65-year-old Jackson is no billionaire and would probably be more than willing to make way for the right man with financial clout.

Whether that man would be prepared to listen to members complaining about the price of a cup of tea is another matter, but they can be sure of a sympathetic ear from Jackson.

Previously vice-chairman, he will not commit himself long-term beyond saying: "I will hold the fort until the situation has been assessed.

"All members' complaints and suggestions will be considered and where there is an element of improvement they should be adopted. They have already made some quite positive suggestions in response to the questionnaire put out by the caterers."

While there were questions about the menu and prices, the issue of whether non-members should be allowed in the members' lounge quickly became a big bone of contention and the reaction was one of the reasons given for Midgley's exit, which took even the board members by surprise.

"Because of what has happened the board will assess the situation and decide where we want to be and how to get there," said Jackson. "This will cover all aspects of the club.

"We are not unique among county clubs in having debts. There are some areas of concern, but some rapid strides have been made in the last 12 months.

"Anything that brings major income should be considered attractive to the club. Lancashire have proved that the finances of a club can be changed through one pop concert. They weren't the main organisers when they had Robbie Williams last year and Bruce Springsteen this season, but they took a colossal cut."

Along with Tommy Moffat, Jackson is a survivor from Durham's original first-class board in 1992 and has always been a frequent visitor to Durham's away matches, something which Midgley's busy schedule did not permit.

While Jackson's keenness to champion the grass roots game might not be perceived as a pre-requisite to be chairman of a first-class county, he is well known among the game's hierarchy at Lord's.

He was a member of the National Cricket Association executive from 1974 and vice-chairman for the last two years before the England and Wales Cricket Board was formed. He has been the ECB director representing the recreational game for the last three years.

Other positions he has held are:

* Secretary of the Tyneside Senior League for 25 years before it merged with the Northumberland League, when he became president.

* Secretary of the old Durham Cricket Association (now the Durham Board) since 1971.

* Assistant secretary of Durham for the last seven years as a minor county and previously a committee member.