CRICKET authorities should be aware of the ‘North-South divide’ facing clubs across the country when allocating funding, one of the region’s MPs has said.

Kevan Jones, whose constituency includes Chester-le-Street, home of Durham County Cricket Club, spoke out after the club refuted claims it was facing financial ruin.

The club was forced admit to debts of between £5m to £6m after former England captain Michael Atherton said it was in danger of going into administration in a national newspaper.

Mr Jones, MP for North Durham, said: “I understand that the club has in place its finances for its long term plans.

“But being a club based in the North-East it is always going to need support from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

“Unlike a lot of southern clubs they cannot collect the sponsorship or higher ticket sales that the southern clubs can attract.

“It is important that the ECB is aware of that when taking decisions about allocation of national funding.”

Mr Jones said the club was valuable asset to the North-East in terms of raising its profile outside of the region and to the communities it serves.

He said: “In terms of being able to market the North-East I think the club has been very successful.

“The other thing which you cannot discount is the great community role which the club plays in terms of encouraging junior sport and cricket in Durham and the North-East.”

Mr Jones’ view was echoed by Ian Thompson, Durham County Council’s corporate director of regeneration and economic development, who said the local authority would also support the club.

He said: “Durham County Cricket Club plays a major role for the county, both in terms of our cultural and tourism offer to the world as well as the economic benefits that their hosting of international and domestic cricket has already brought to the area.

“We will continue to offer our full support to the club as they work towards what we’re confident will be a successful future.”

No-one at the England and Wales Cricket Board was available for comment when contacted by The Northern Echo, but the club has said it is in discussion with the ECB about the funding of county cricket and continues to have ‘a positive dialogue’.