KENT County Cricket Club is urging Canterbury City Council not to forget the city's historic cricketing culture as it bids to become Europe's Capital of Culture for 2008.

Last summer the St Lawrence ground in the Old Dover Road - Kent's headquarters since 1847 - topped polls in The Times and The Cricketer magazine to win national best ground awards. Meanwhile, the Kent team finished third in the 2001 county championship first division and won the Norwich Union League title for the first time in six years.

Yet despite successes on and off the field, Kent's players and officials have been left dumbfounded at the city's seemingly cool reception to the club's achievements. Club captain Matthew Fleming is now urging city councillors to develop a business partnership with Kent to help keep Canterbury on the nation's sporting map, views that have been echoed by the club's head of marketing Jon Fordham.

"There's no doubt that the links between the county cricket club and the city council could be improved," said Mr Fordham. "Our relationship with Maidstone Borough Council is first-class nowadays and we know councillors in Tunbridge Wells are firmly behind us and in support of their cricket week, but personally I don't feel we have that close a relationship with Canterbury as yet.

"That said, dialogue with Canterbury City Council is on-going. We have held recent meetings at which we presented them with a wish list, areas where we feel improvements and changes can be made. They are considering those suggestions at the moment and we hope for a positive response."

Council chief executive Colin Carmichael concedes there may be room for improvement in the council-club relationship and is prepared to sit down with the county skipper and club officials to debate the issues.

"I agree that we probably don't send council deputations down to St Lawrence as often as we might and that we were remiss in not putting forward a council notice of motion praising the club's achievements last season," said Mr Carmichael.

"To be honest, it didn't occur to us to lay on an open top bus for them after their cup success, so if that's an indication of the fact that we don't love them enough, then they have a fair point.

"It's probably more an indication of the need for more regular communication between ourselves and the club.

"In actual fact, we would be delighted to close the roads and let the players parade the trophy because it is something that should be celebrated."

Mr Carmichael points out that the council has lent its support to Kent's bid to host one-day international matches at St Lawrence and, because of the club's financial difficulties, have supported proposed developments at the ground.

"We are extremely proud of the club and the council are supportive behind the scenes," added Mr Carmichael. "It's only a minor thing, but we do let the club put match notices up alongside the highways coming into the city.

"I know now that Matthew Fleming would like to see road signs into the city promoting Canterbury as the home of Kent Spitfires, it's local government bureaucracy, but those signs are county council responsibility. That said, I would lend my support to his idea and would be happy to have a debate with Matthew over his other ideas."