There is a new man in charge at St George’s Cricket Club — well, sort of.

Former president Neil Paynter has returned to the post after being elected unopposed at a special general meeting on December 9. The meeting was called after outgoing president, Mishael Paynter, resigned for personal reasons 18 months into his three-year term at the helm.

Paynter was the only candidate nominated for the vacant position after Kyle Denbrook, the club’s vice-president, declined an offer to step up.

Paynter has made a seamless transition back into the leadership post after maintaining close ties with the club since stepping down at the club’s annual general meeting in 2024.

“I never really left the club,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“I've still been around helping when needed, so it's just flowed right into it from a physical point of view.

“Now knowing I am in a position of leadership and some responsibility, obviously you have to change your mindset, but I don't know if I really have to change my mindset because I still felt like I was involved. I didn’t have to be there, I was there because it was my club.”

Paynter offered his assistance in the immediate aftermath of his predecessor relinquishing the post.

“When our former president stepped down, I reached out to the vice-president and just offered my assistance,” Paynter said. “I told them I was here if there was anything they needed and we had a series of meetings as well as with the executive.

“I told them I was there to support the guys however it was needed and through those meetings we had deep-dive conversations to get ready for the special general meeting and the rest is history.”

Paynter previously served 22 years as president after succeeding Louis “Red” DeSilva in 2002. He was the longest-serving president of the postwar era and second in tenure only to W.S. Cooper (1910-1934). He will now see out the remainder of his predecessor’s term and plans to step down after the club host Cup Match at Wellington Oval in 2027.

“I am here to finish Mishael's term,” Paynter said.

“He has done 18 months of a three-year term and it’s two things I told the committee. I told them that I am willing to finish out our former president's term but I am also willing to do a Cup Match in St George's. They were all in agreement, so I will do another Cup Match in St George's.”

Paynter was compelled to fill the breach to lend his wealth of experience and offer some guidance at the helm.

“Our committee is a good committee but, nothing against them, they’re an inexperienced committee,” he said.

“They are fresh and that's the reason why I chose to offer myself if needed because I felt it was needed to give them some guidance, so that we can have another succession plan and ensure that when I do step down that we can go on because I am not going past a Cup Match in St George’s.

“I told them I am not doing another 22 years. I will finish up my term after the next Cup Match in St George's if the members see fit. That's what I am willing to do.”

Paynter hopes to continue to build on the good work of previous administrations during his time at the helm.

“Community clubs are suffering right now and my thing is to ensure that people get involved and I want to ensure St George's Cricket Club is viable for years to come,” he said.

“That's my only role right now and I don't think we are in a bad state. We are in a good position, but I just want to ensure that the good work of all the previous administrations, including the last one, can be taken forward.

“My short-term goal is to sit down with the committee and plot a way forward with inclusivity, ensuring that everyone knows where we are and how we move forward because this is not about Neil's plan. It’s about the management plan because when I step away I want them to be taking it on.

“I do have some goals in mind, which I am not willing to share right now, because I am still formulating them. But my short-term goal is to ensure that the success and the continuity of our organisation remains and continues.”

These are exciting times for the East End club whose senior cricket and football teams have enjoyed considerable success lately having claimed league and cup honours, including winning the Dudley Eve Trophy for the first time.

“From an organisation we are doing very well in our programmes, whether it be our senior programmes or our youth programmes the club is moving in a positive direction and we are doing well,” Paynter said.

“The elusive Cup Match win, yes I understand that, but what I would say is that when it comes to Cup Match, St George's Cricket Club puts on a great event. Our organisation is second to none when it comes to the event.

“On the field we haven't won it in years, but I believe that day is coming. When we do win Cup Match, it’s going to be icing on the cake for our organisation because whether it be Somerset or St George’s, the success of our club should not be determined on whether we have Cup Match cup or not. It should be determined on how we run our organisation for the 363 days of the year outside Cup Match to ensure that our communities are benefiting from what we provide for them.

“To the St George's community, I want to thank them for the support they have given me throughout the years and I want them to continue to support not only Neil Paynter but the St George's Cricket Club and the roles and the responsibility that we have to ensure that our community thrives from now to the end.”