DURHAM chairman Clive Leach has appealed for more members to sign up in support of the county champions, writes TIM WELLOCK.

Writing in Riverside Review, the club magazine, he says: “The members we have are terrific. I can’t stress that enough and without them we would not be where we are now.

“However, we do not have enough of them. It is something which I think can certainly be improved upon.”

When Durham first came into first-class cricket in 1992 they had a membership of around 6,000, but last season it was down to 4,400.

“For the whole of the North- East that’s not as high as you would expect,” says Leach, who has been chairman since 2004. “When you look at the fact that we have two big cities on our doorstep, as well as large towns like Darlington and Stockton, we are not achieving anything like the membership we should do for a club of our size.

“Lancashire have 10,500 members and Yorkshire 8,000.

We should be able to achieve similar numbers, especially after the success we have had.

“People in the North-East should be proud of Durham after winning the Friends Provident Trophy in 2007 and the LV County Championship this year.”

Leach revealed that talks with a prominent hotel group are at an advanced stage for the next phase of the Riverside development, which will include a 150-bedroom hotel overlooking the River Wear.

He also added: “We are sad to see the end of our sponsorship from Northern Rock because they have not just been good for cricket.

They have been good for the entire region. However, we are in talks with a number of organisations who are interested in taking over the sponsorship. We are confident, with the success we have had, we will not lose out.”

For the second successive season Durham are unlikely to see Shivnarine Chanderpaul until early July next year.

Confirmation that the West Indies are to provide England’s early season opposition will see the 2007 International Player of the Year come under pressure from his home board to abandon his plans to play in the Indian Premier League.

But as the tour doesn’t end until May 26 the West Indies will then go straight into their preparations for the Twenty20 World Championship, to be held at Lord’s, the Oval and Trent Bridge starting on June 5.

The West Indies then have a home series of four one-day internationals pencilled in against India, lasting from June 26-July 5.

Anyone wishing to enquire about membership can ring the club on 0191 387 1717, or visit www.durhamccc.co.uk.