KENT County Cricket Club’s mixed fortunes on the pitch last summer were mirrored off it with disappointing financial results for 2004 and a meagre £5,548 post-tax profit.

A season that led to totesport League relegation and a runner’s-up berth in the Frizzell Championship led to an increase in income of £159,429 but a reduction in profits of almost £35,000 compared to the previous year’s figure of £40,699.

Though staff levels dropped from 70 to 65 overall, salaries rose by £151,432 to almost £2m as player salaries went up from £1,011,314 to £1,116,032, an increase of £104,718.

Membership figures remained steady at 5,116, an overall increase of two, yet match receipts dropped by £15,433 as paid attendances slumped by 8,382 across the board.

The club also bucked the national trend of increased Twenty20 Cup attendances in attracting just 7,587 spectators to their three home fixtures, as opposed to crowds of 8,380 at their two games of 2003.

Delays in extending and upgrading the indoor school led to a drop in operational profits for the sports centre of £25,133, down to £9,380, while the first year of Arrowmark catering led to a reduction in income to £78,455, down £2,278.

Coaching costs dropped, however, as pay packets were cut by just over £13,000 to £158,699.

The main plus point was another good performance from the club’s marketing department who topped half-a-million income for the first time with £511,588, up £66,773 on 2003.

The figures, coupled with Kent’s close-season signings will come under scrutiny at the club’s annual meeting at the Ramada Hotel in Hollingbourne on Monday, March 14, at 7.30pm.

The meeting will also hear the result of this year’s members’ vote for general committee elections. Chris Tavare, Graham Johnson, George Kennedy, Laurence Poole and Mark Baker White stood for election to fill four vacant berths.