Opposition to the way Yorkshire's general committee are running the club was swept aside at the annual meeting in Sheffield on Saturday when a no-confidence motion was defeated by a 77 per cent majority.

And the club scored a further victory with the defeat of another members' resolution which urged them to take Championship cricket back to Harrogate and Sheffield next year.

Although Yorkshire were naturally relieved that Paul Ablett's no-confidence motion failed to go through, they would still be wise to take note that 598 of the members who voted supported the resolution.

Ablett also almost pulled off the biggest shock of the day when he came close to unseating cricket chairman Bob Platt on the committee, Platt polling 364 votes in the West District election and his opponent 322.

The closeness of this poll must have worried Yorkshire when it came to Ablett's no-confidence motion but members were less supportive towards him and his allies on this issue, 598 being in favour of the resolution and 1993 against.

Last year, a resolution urging Yorkshire to return to Harrogate and Sheffield squeezed through by 70 votes, but this time it was rejected by 55 per cent of the members who voted, 1175 being in favour and 1418 against.

The vote has almost certainly put an end to the thorny subject re-appearing on the agenda next year and it sounded the death knell for Sheffield, but Harrogate put up a more convincing case and it may be that future discussions between the St George's Road club and Yorkshire could see the occasional match returning there at some stage.

Harrogate CC president Andrew Campbell said he recognised that his club must work with Yorkshire and not against them. They had a proud association which went back over a century and there had been some superb county matches on the ground.

He could not understand the argument that players who wanted to win did not enjoy playing at Harrogate because it was a more successful ground for them than Headingley had ever been.

Yorkshire treasurer, Peter Townend, warned that Yorkshire would incur additional expense of £2,500 if they played a game at Harrogate or Harrogate and he said that the overall costs of taking mid-season games away from Headingley would be around £50,000.

"That is why we are not keen to consider either Sheffield or Harrogate. It is absolute nonsense, you have to be where the facilities are," he added.

Earlier, Platt had told the meeting: "I think it right as cricket chairman that I should emphasise the team's desire to play home cricket at Headingley and Scarborough because it is to their best advantage."

A committee resolution confirming approval to proceed with the Headingley redevelopment plans received massive support. It is expected that Yorkshire will hear this week if they are to receive lottery cash for the £9.1m scheme, work on which could start in mid-August.

Captain David Byas said there had been several major advances last season with Yorkshire ensuring Division One status in both this year's PPP Championship and CGU National League as well as beating Lancashire in an important one-day match at Old Trafford and reaching a Lord's final.

"The disappointment of members and supporters in not winning the final against Gloucestershire is shared by the whole team and we are determined to make up for it,"he said.

Byas said the club could be justifiably proud to have three players on England contracts and he was confident that Yorkshire's youngsters were well prepared technically, physically and mentally for the challenges ahead.

Sir Lawrence Byford stepped down as club president and was elected an honorary life member.

He was succeeded as president by solicitor Robin Smith who paid tribute to Sir Lawrence and said he was a natural leader and great ambassador who had been at the helm during a very successful time.

He was looking forward to the presidency which was a job that every Yorkshireman would love to hold.

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