A significant increase in attendances last summer has helped Kent County Cricket Club post a sixth consecutive year of improvement in their core financial results.

Financial figures for the year ending October 31, 2015, came out today and revealed the club’s EBITDA – earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation – showed a profit of £345,784, the sixth straight year of EBITDA growth.

Once interest, depreciation and the net impact of other items were taken into account,the historical deficit for the year after taxation was £142,659, but Kent were pleased to see the value of their net assets rise by almost £1.4m over the year to £7.7m.

Last year Kent chief executive Jamie Clifford revealed the county's frustration when Canterbury City Council rejected planning permission for the development of retirement properties on the Old Dover Road side of the St Lawrence Ground which caused a delay to funds from developers McCarthy & Stone.

However,12 months on the county was able to say that, after the end of the financial year, the sale of land had been completed - a deal described by Mr Clifford as a' key moment' in the club's history.

He explained:: “It is very pleasing to report, once again, continued improvement in our trading results.

"The club has seen just short of £1 million improvement in EBITDA since 2009 – an objective that was at the heart of our strategic planning.

“(The year) 2015 was a memorable year for all involved in the club – for excitement and drama on the field and for the progress made off it.

“We enjoyed some special days with attendance across the season at the highest level since 2009. The visit of Australia and a home NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final (against Lancashire in August) made a significant contribution to ticket sales.

“The County Ground, Beckenham re-opened having undergone a multi-million pound transformation. This exceptional venue now represents a major focus of our activities in metropolitan Kent.

“Towards the end of 2015 we secured the planning permission required to complete the McCarthy & Stone land sale and this marks a key moment in the Club’s history.

"We can expect the construction of high quality retirement apartments to commence in the coming months.

“The club would like to thank the members, supporters, commercial partners and sponsors who have provided such fantastic support.

Kent reached the quarter-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast and the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2015 and have recently strengthened their squad by signing South African paceman Kagiso Rabada and New Zealand Test batsman Tom Latham, raising supporters' hopes for the summer.

Mr Clifford added: "We now all look forward to the 2016 season with huge anticipation. Let’s hope that it brings us the success we all crave.”

Members will receive the financial accounts and report within the next few days, ahead of the the club’s annual meeting which will be held at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on Monday, April 4, start 7pm.