Colin Graves set for Yorkshire return after board approves loan offer

Former chair Colin Graves is set to make a controversial return to Yorkshire after the club’s board "agreed to recommend" his loan offer.

The cash-strapped club are in desperate need of investment to ward off the threat of administration.

Other options – including a mooted deal with former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley – failed to fully materialise and have left the way clear for Graves to come back in at a club he served as chair between 2012 and 2015.

It has been reported that the Graves consortium’s offer – which still needs the green light from club members at an extraordinary general meeting – includes an immediate loan of £1million, followed quickly by new investment worth a further £4m.

Yorkshire said in a statement on Wednesday evening: "The Board of Yorkshire County Cricket Club has tonight agreed to recommend the loan agreement from Mr Colin Graves.

"The club will be sending a notice to members tomorrow (Thursday 11th January) ahead of an EGM which will outline the details of the offer as well as the resolutions and rule changes that are required to be ratified by members at the EGM."

Graves' return will be controversial, given the racism scandal which has engulfed Yorkshire in recent years, an episode which partially took place during his first stint in charge.

His money has saved the county from financial oblivion once before, when he first became involved in 2002, and he is now eager for a second act at Headingley, where debts to the Graves family trust are close to £15million.

Yorkshire admitted an England and Wales Cricket Board charge of failing to deal with systemic use of racist and discriminatory language over a period between 2004 and 2021, a time in which partially they were under Graves' watch.

Graves insisted that no allegations of racism or bullying were ever raised to him during his tenure, but he was criticised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last year after referring to some incidents as "banter".

Former player Azeem Rafiq, who blew the whistle on racism at Yorkshire in 2020, said that he would "no longer be able to call Yorkshire [his] club" and that it would not be "a safe place" for ethnic minorities if Graves returns.

Colin Graves has now been invited to appear before a parliamentary select committee after he edged closer to a controversial return to Yorkshire, with its chair raising concerns his comeback could "undermine progress" made in tackling racism.

Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage also said in a statement: "The disgraceful treatment of Azeem Rafiq by Yorkshire CCC was the tip of the iceberg, with racism, classism, sexism and misogyny found to be entrenched across the sport.

"The publication of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s report last year offered a turning point for English cricket, which the ECB appears to be taking.

"The return of Colin Graves to Yorkshire and to English cricket risks undermining what progress has been made so far.

"If the club is serious about rebuilding its reputation as well as its finances, then there needs to be a commitment from Mr Graves and the club to fully respecting the findings of the ICEC and taking action on them.

"The Culture, Media and Sport Committee will be watching closely as this deal progresses, so that the terrible past of Yorkshire CCC does not repeat itself."

Representatives of the Graves consortium have been approached for comment.

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