SURREY'S new management of Chris Adams, Ian Salisbury and managing director Gus Mackay was called into question by disgusted club cricketers during the recent Surrey Championship awards dinner at Sandown Park, which was notable for a disastrous performance by the master of ceremonies and main speaker Henry Kelly.

======STOP SUMMARY=====

In a poorly handled question and answer session the Surrey guests refused to address leading topics raised from the floor such as the culling of development coaches during heavy spending on first-team players at the Brit Oval. Donald Kingsnorth, one of the 400 diners, said that, as Kelly lost control of the room, they "strutted the stage demanding respect like some fourth-form bullies."

Kingsnorth said the evening demonstrated a wide gulf between Surrey and the clubs. He added: "How unacceptably arrogant of Mackay it was to speak to the room in the manner he chose. As if his performance at Surrey was anything to boast about... Typically he refused to answers real questions put to him about the connection between Surrey CCC and the clubs. Yet again he used the excuse of this being the wrong forum, and yet when he arrives at regional development meetings he employs exactly the same tactics. When, then, would he be prepared to answer such questions? The antipathy of the whole room towards the county team was evident."

As for Kelly, whose speech was cut short humiliatingly by a show of hands from irate diners, the whole room was subjected to an array of insults and patronising comments. Kingsnorth, from Valley End CC, said: "We were the reasonable proud winners of two league titles this year, but when our 1st XI captain went to collect our award he was greeted by yet more insults from Mr Kelly. We were grouped with Thames Ditton and were met with the remark 'come on then whoever you are'.

"Well, Mr Kelly, we are Valley End Cricket club. Our 1st XI won their league in record fashion by mid July and are promoted for the third year in succession. Our 4th XI won Division One East at the first attempt. Last year we won the nPower National Village Cup at Lord's, and have recently been voted Surrey Sports Team of the Year 2009 by Surrey County Council.

"We, like everyone else in the room you insulted, provide recreational sport to hundreds and provide and introduce hundreds more young people to the benefits of sport in general and cricket in particular. Without us, all of us, there is no Surrey Championship, no County Club and no need to engage a master of ceremonies at dinners.

"Much damage was done on the awards night and the Championship management, who organised and are responsible for this farce, owe the members an apology and our money back. I look forward to seeing some contrition at future meetings."

Kingsnorth did mention that the whole out-of-control evening was "desperately sad but absolutely riveting", a view probably shared by many fellow diners. On the other hand nobody would want a repeat.

CHARLIE SAYS: Many counties have been breaking down barriers with their clubs for mutual benefit, but Surrey and their attitude to 'clubbies' is rooted in the dark ages. The county club would be well advised to take heed of the reaction at the Championship dinner and rebuild a relationship.