Kent Cricket Club bosses say a decision to host ska legends Madness at its Canterbury ground this autumn will not put its finances at risk.

The club has not held a concert at the St Lawrence since 2009, when it suffered losses of close to £200,000 after The Sugababes and James Morrison failed to attract predicted crowds.

But there will be “no risk” to the club’s bank balance this time round, with an events company hiring the ground for the Madness gig, instead of the club managing the concert itself, as it did six years ago.

The club’s commercial director Pat Mellsop said: “We are ‘hosts’ of the concert and as such are in an agreement with the Liz Hobbs Group to rent the ground.

“We do have some profit share aspects, like the sale and management of hospitality, but unlike the previous concerts the club is at no risk of losing monies on the venture.”

The club had hoped to attract a crowd of 9,000 to each of the Sugababes and James Morrison concerts, but the first only drew 4,000 and the second 8,000.

Club chairman George Kennedy said at the time: “It simply didn’t work, and we won’t be doing it again.”

“The key for us is to find a suitable partner and model to make it sustainable, without undue risk to the club” - Commercial director Pat Mellsop

But with the huge following of Madness there is little fear of another flop, with as many as 12,000 tickets thought to be available for the concert on Friday, September 11.

The group are coming to the city as part of a 19-date run billed “the UK’s biggest ever live open air tour.”

As well as performing classics like House of Fun, Baggy Trousers and My Girl, they will treat fans to some of their first new recordings in three years.

Kent Cricket CEO Jamie Clifford said: “We are looking forward to hosting Madness at Canterbury later this year and once again being a concert host.

“With Suggs being a local Whitstable resident it will be a bit of a homecoming and I am sure the locals will welcome him and the Madness boys with a great deal of enthusiasm.

“We are expecting tickets to sell out quickly and anticipate that this event will firmly secure us as one of the region’s premier venues for music.”

Mr Mellsop says the club is keen to host more music concerts at the ground – but without risking the club’s finances.

He said: “We are keen to make this a regular occurrence as it is a key income stream at lots of other sporting venues and brings world- class acts to the local community.

“The key for us is to find a suitable partner and model to make it sustainable, without undue risk to the club.”

Tickets for the Madness concert go on sale on Friday, February 20, at www.ticketmaster.co.uk,www.grandslammadness.co.uk and www.lizhobbsgroup.com.

General tickets are £35 and family tickets £99, for two adults and two children up to the age of 16.

For hospitality bookings visit www.kentcricket.co.uk or call 01227 456886.