by Glenn Pearson

The St Lawrence Ground redevelopment project triggered an £800,000 payment from the England and Wales Cricket Board which helped Kent post an operating profit in 2011.

The county announced a profit of £188,000 which was a dramatic turnaround after the club had posted a loss of £595,000 the previous year.

Writing to members ahead of the annual meeting on March 27, treasurer Simon Philip said: "The receipt of £800,000 of new money from the ECB was down to the improvement of our facilities. Without it, it is possible that we would have received nothing."

Permanent floodlights earned the club £500,000, while a further £300,000 was received due to the improved facilities for spectators, players and the media.

Kent chief executive Jamie Clifford added: "We would have forgone the ECB payments without the redevelopment. If the dressing rooms were not sorted, we would have missed out on that revenue and that’s why we were so desperate to start in September/October 2010.

"If we had not got the project under way at that point, we would not have met the ECB ground improvement deadlines."

Income increased by more than £1million in the year ending October 2011, with particular highlights in marketing – up £200,000 to £700,000 for the year – while Twenty20 cricket contributed £75,000 of additional revenue and match receipts overall increased by £64,000.

County championship cricket remains a concern, with the figures showing 4,000 less spectators in 2011 compared to 2010 which, combined with a reduction in cost of ticket prices, saw a drop in revenue of £61,000.

As a result, the cost of entry to the Tunbridge Wells Festival and Canterbury Cricket Week will increase this year to help offset the losses in the county championship.