WORCESTERSHIRE aim to improve upon a “disappointing” commercial performance last year which has led to a “restructure”.

The County have not looked to recruit a new chief executive to replace Matt Rawnsley after the former player left the club last October.

They had targeted a better year commercially but Fanos Hira, who was appointed chairman in September 2018, confirmed that “regrettably these improvements did not occur”.

Floods have invaded Worcestershire’s Blackfinch New Road base twice so far in 2020 and five times last year.

It has led the club to already move their County Championship home opener with Sussex from Saturday, April 25, to Kidderminster.

But Hira said in his chairman’s report for the year: “Due to assistance from the ECB and our insurance policies our results were not negatively impacted by flooding in 2019.

“That said we cannot continue to rely upon others to assist us.

“Our focus in the next year is to mitigate the losses of flooding by making sure our cellars, retail, disability access and museum are all above the flood plain.”

The chairman’s report for the year stated: “On a statutory basis WCCC recorded a loss before taxation of £89,000 in 2019 which is £213,000 worse than the £124,000 profit recorded in 2018.

“On an underlying basis WCCC’s performance was more adverse. Using management accounts WCCC estimate on an underlying basis that for 2019 the loss before taxation increases to £492,000 which is a very sharp £627,000 decline in profitability compared to 2018 results.

“Both on a statutory and on an underlying basis the board viewed 2019 commercial performance as disappointing.

“The focus is to improve commercial performance at WCCC and also to market and promote all forms of cricket played at Blackfinch New Road.

“Any new commercial improvements we feel should not, wherever possible, be through charging members more.

“If anything, new commercial deals secured such as with drinks suppliers will be passed on to our members in terms of cheaper services and offerings.

“The downward commercial trends of 2019 prompted a decision to restructure — with a simplified structure with more focused, specific roles and responsibilities.

“We will continuously review matters at WCCC. Our working assumption at this stage is that we will not hire a CEO.”