AGM postponed as outgoing HCA board begins planning for 2020-2021 season

With an increase in active COVID-19 cases in Horsham, the association deemed it unsafe to hold a meeting in person, and inadequate to host the AGM over video call.

The meeting has instead been postponed indefinitely.

Every position on the HCA board was set to be vacant at the meeting, after the board from the 2019-2020 season unanimously resigned following treatment received at the end of last season.

The board received "vitriol" and "personal attacks" for not awarding a two-day premier when the season was cancelled prior to the first week of finals.

Outgoing HCA secretary Darren Chesterfield said with upward of 25 people likely to attend the AGM, it simply had to be postponed to ensure the safety of attendees and the community.

Mr Chesterfield said in the meantime, the HCA board that was set to resign would begin planning for the 2020-2021 season.

He said all five positions on the HCA board would still be vacated and voted upon at the AGM.

"Whether it be one month, two months or three months, whenever it is safe to have all those people in one environment, we can hold an AGM," he said.

"And once it is safe to do so, all board positions will be vacated.

"That doesn't necessarily mean that anyone on the board from last year will not stand again.

"It depends on many things, including the challenges that cricket faces."

Mr Chesterfield said the resigning board felt it their duty to ensure planning begins for a new season.

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He said the COVID-19 pandemic could make it a particularly difficult season to organise.

"The planning processes necessary for the season to get started are being undertaken by the current board," he said.

"Obviously considering the unusual circumstances, it will take a fair bit of planning and flexibility this season.

"It is going to create lots of challenges and I suspect a whole focus on being flexible and doing things differently to perhaps what people have done in the past.

"But that is something for the new board to decide on in consultation with stakeholders."

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