Kent chairman George Kennedy says reaching the Twenty20 final again next month is a must if they want to play in the Champions League.

The winners and runners-up at Edgbaston will go through to a money-spinning tournament due to be held in India in October.

They will then face the top three Indian Premier League teams, the top two from Australia and South Africa and one from the West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Mr Kennedy (pictured) said: "Being in the finals for the third successive year is unprecedented and just marvellous.

"The riches available, though, depend entirely on being in the final, there’s nothing in reaching the semi-finals, that’s bridesmaid stuff, and it might even cost you money."

The ECB board were due to meet yesterday (Wednesday) to finalise next summer’s programme, which includes the Twenty20 final being played in September with the Champions League being staged in the same month.

There has been speculation that could mean the County Championship programme being reduced but Mr Kennedy says Kent aren’t in favour
of that.

He said: "We feel it should be retained in its present form, with promotion and relegation with two divisions. There should be one Twenty20 competition and we suggested another competition, similar to the John Player League, to be played every Sunday home and away."

Meanwhile, Mr Kennedy says the county plan to hold a members’ meeting soon to update them on the club’s delayed £10million redevelopment of the St Lawrence Ground.

He said: "We will be talking to members shortly about where we are. We have quotes that, in my opinion, are acceptable but I want to make sure the membership are happy with what we are doing.

"A lot of water has gone under the bridge in two years. I have always said it’s a members club and we should tell them what we are doing."