Yorkshire officials are bracing themselves for a grilling at the club's annual meeting tomorrow over why they allowed director of coaching, Martyn Moxon, to leave Headingley and take up a similar post with Durham.

Although Yorkshire were quick to replace Moxon with Western Australia's coach, Wayne Clark, the sudden departure of the popular former captain has puzzled and upset many of the county's most loyal supporters.

Some of them are certain to seek an explanation as to why more effort was not made to resolve the differences between Moxon and the club and so prevent them losing one of the most respected coaches in the country.

The annual meeting is being held for the first time at the indoor school at Headingley and those attending it will get their last glimpse of the building before it is completely refurbished later this year as part of the ground's £10m redevelopment scheme.

With Yorkshire now able to report a profit on last year's working of around £30,000 instead of an anticipated loss, there are few contentious items on the agenda although a couple of resolutions would bring about significant rule changes if passed by the required two-thirds majority.

The committee will give their support to a resolution put forward by Harrogate-based Julian Vallance and seconded by former Yorkshire and England all-rounder Richard Hutton, who now lives near Wetherby, that committee members, vice-presidents and honorary life members should be permitted to propose or second any candidate for election to the committee.

The feeling is that this would enable the committee to recommend for election people they consider to have the right mix of qualities, skills and experience, but some members may see such a rule change as encouraging cronyism.

Another resolution, put forward by David Hall and Keith Leckenby, seeks to end the rule which allows each of the four districts to elect only one ex-Yorkshire player on to the committee, but this resolution is opposed by the club.

The proposers say it is odd that there is no disqualification of those who might have lengthy criminal records but severe restrictions on those who have played the game and might have a positive contribution to make.

Yorkshire point out to members that the restriction on ex-players was introduced following discontent in the 1980s and they argue that former players have a considerable advantage over other candidates in terms of profile.

There is unlikely to be any opposition to the club's proposal to elect former Yorkshire and England players John Hampshire and Don Wilson as honorary life members in recognition of their outstanding services to Yorkshire.

Updated: 09:50 Friday, March 02, 2001