George Kennedy will step down as chairman of Kent at the club’s annual meeting later this month following nine eventful years at the helm.

After more than four decades as a member, Leith-born Mr Kennedy was invited to become president of Kent County Cricket Club in 2007 and the following year he was elected chairman.

His stated aim was to ‘make a club fit for purpose’ amid challenging financial times but working with chief executive Jamie Clifford since 2010, the club have recorded a £1m improvement in their finances through cost-cutting, increased sponsorship and ticket revenues.

Under Mr Kennedy’s watch, the club sold naming rights to the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence to Shepherd Neame and invested in new club offices, the Lime Tree cafe and oversaw the opening of the Sainsbury’s store on Old Dover Road –which provides vital annual income through rent – as well as the installation of floodlights and refurbishment of the Chiesman Pavilion and Les Ames Stand.

Cricket has also returned to a refurbished County Ground in Beckenham which boasts a state-of-the-art indoor school.

Mr Kennedy said: “It’s been nine years and I am sure plenty of people might say that’s long enough. I am proud of what has been achieved in that time.

“I’ve enjoyed the challenge of helping the club navigate through some tricky times but I firmly believe Kent Cricket is in much better health than it was in 2008.”

He admitted: “It’s been a struggle at times. The club was in something of a sorry state when I took over, we’d hosted some concerts which had done badly and were something of a disaster.

“It wasn’t long before we brought Jamie Clifford in as chief executive and the work he has done since then has been pretty fantastic.”

Mr Clifford said: “I am sure all will join me in wishing George the very best as he moves on – his input as chairman can’t be underestimated.”

Mr Kennedy added: “Without a shadow of a doubt, the club is in a stronger position than when I took the job but there are still things to be done.

“I think the committee structure is beyond its sell-by date. We have to look to the future, the whole structure needs overhauling.

“Look at what they have done at Derby – they have scrapped their traditional system and brought in three or four experts, one for finance, one for entertainment, a lawyer, and so on. They became the guts of the club and a professional plc.”

Mr Kennedy predicted a bright future on the field as well as off it, adding: “We had to get our house in order financially before making strategic investments to ensure stable year-round income for the club and back our homegrown talent to be the core of the Kent side going forward.

“As a life member, I understand supporters want success yesterday but we had to rebuild steady foundations to give the club the healthy future it deserves.

“Last season gave us a glimpse of what could be achieved and I know the club is in good hands.

“I’d like to thank all the members and supporters for their loyalty, patience and understanding and I look forward to seeing Kent thrive in all competitions under Matt Walker and Sam Northeast.”

One of his final acts as chairman was to take on the ECB hierachy over their refusal to promote Division 2 runners-up Kent to the top flight last autumn, in favour of reprieving Hampshire from relegation in the wake of Durham’s demotion as a penalty for accepting a financial bail-out.

Mr Kennedy admitted: “Relations with the ECB have been difficult with the advent of T20 discussions and the battle over promotion and relegation along with various other issues but I am happy to hand over to a new regime who will continue the work to return Kent to the top table.”

A new chairman is set to be unveiled at the annual meeting on March 28.

Mr Kennedy was awarded a CBE in 1997 for services to the healthcare industry and exports after a 30-year spell as chairman and director of Smiths Industries, a medical systems group.