Smith tells clubs: Vote for change
Clay Smith has told the Island’s cricket clubs that a vote for him is a vote for ‘positive change’.In a letter sent out yesterday the Bermuda Cricket Board presidential candidate urges the clubs to support his bid to replace the outgoing Reggie Pearman telling them that the ‘time is now to make a difference’.Asking clubs to think about his plans for an inclusive presidency where “We” will replace “I” Smith asks for their support ‘so that together we can move cricket forward’.Smith has been campaigning heavily during the past couple of weeks, meeting club officials to find out their concerns and says in the letter that his discussions with various club committees and executive members have been ‘enlightening’.The former national team skipper goes on to say that as president he would want input from ‘all parties involved’ and asks that the clubs select him for the roll at the BCB’s annual general meeting next Tuesday.Smith letter reads:“To Whom It May Concern,“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing me the time to come and share with your cricket committee/executive my concepts for moving cricket forward. This has been a very enlightening month for me as I continue to aspire to be the next Bermuda Cricket Board president. Meeting with you has allowed me to be able to assess your needs as a club and how those needs fit into my overall portfolio and platform. If we are to move cricket forward we must remove the “I” and implement the “We”. To be an effective president I will require input from all parties involved, as the only way to resurrect our sport is to collectively make change. With this in mind I hope and trust that your club will see fit to select me as president come November 29th, so that we together can move cricket forward. The time is now to make a difference, vote towards making a positive change for Bermuda cricket. Again, I say thank you!“Yours sincerely,“Clay Smith.”The letter was sent to all the clubs even though three still don’t know if they will be allowed to vote on Tuesday. Leg Trappers, Social Club and Somerset Bridge are waiting for the BCB to decide if they are eligable to take part in the AGM.Leg Trappers and Social Club may be barred from voting because they did not play a full part in the season this summer, with Trappers only playing in the Twenty20 competition and Social Club withdrawing from all competitions because of a lack of players.Bridge meanwhile have a financial issue that still needs to be resolved and Neil Speight, the BCB chief executive, is expected to inform the clubs of the Board’s decision on Monday when he returns from a trip to Dubai.