Middlesex's future at Lord's remains uncertain as the club has been unable to secure a long-term extension of their tenancy agreement with the MCC, which is set to expire this year. The Guardian has learned that after months of negotiations with the ground's owners, Middlesex is close to finalizing a 12-month contract that will allow most of their matches to be played at the home of cricket next summer. However, the club's long-term prospects are still unclear. Middlesex's previous leases with the MCC were for five years each, making the proposed 12-month deal a source of concern for staff at both clubs, especially given that the 13-time county champions have been tenants at Lord's since 1864.
While a short-term agreement has been reached as a temporary solution, there is concern on both sides that the current arrangements may not be mutually beneficial, as evidenced by the protracted negotiations. Middlesex has faced several governance and financial challenges in recent years, leading to concerns among senior MCC figures about the county's management. Tensions have also been reported between some senior officials at both clubs. The ECB fined Middlesex £50,000 and imposed a suspended points deduction last September for breaching financial regulations, while the club faced charges of improper conduct by the newly formed Cricket Regulator earlier this summer. A disciplinary hearing was held last month, with Middlesex denying the charges.
Middlesex's chief executive, Andrew Cornish, publicly expressed his club's concerns in April, suggesting the possibility of moving to a new ground in northwest London. However, he later clarified that such a move was not imminent. Since Cornish took over in 2021, Middlesex's financial position has improved, posting their first profit since 2016 of £131,000. This improvement was largely due to cost-cutting measures that have negatively impacted performance. The club did not employ any overseas players this summer and was relegated to Division Two of the County Championship on the final day of the season. Financial cuts are expected to continue, with opening batter Mark Stoneman released last week and no plans to recruit overseas players for next season.
The existing agreement, under which the MCC pays Middlesex several hundred thousand pounds a year to play at Lord's in exchange for match-day revenue, is also under review. After almost 150 years of Middlesex paying rent and receiving gate receipts, the two parties signed a unique five-year deal in 2015, which was later extended for another five years. However, Middlesex's T20 Blast crowds have declined significantly in recent years, and this season, two of their games were moved to Chelmsford, affecting MCC's revenue. More Middlesex Blast games could be relocated next season due to demand from other clubs to play at Lord's.
MCC sources maintain that they want Middlesex to remain at Lord's but have chosen to take more time to make a decision. The MCC is also undergoing significant changes, with a new chief executive set to be appointed by the end of the year to replace Guy Lavender, who is leaving to join the Jockey Club. Mark Nicholas, the former Hampshire captain, formally took over as MCC Chair on 1 October after serving as the club's president for the last 12 months. Mervyn King, the former Bank of England governor, is replacing Nicholas in that role.
The ongoing Hundred sales process adds another layer of complexity, as the MCC is likely to have a new partner at Lord's next year. The London Spirit is considered the most attractive of the eight franchises, with the Ambani Family expected to make an unbeatable bid for a 49% stake. Both the MCC and Middlesex declined to comment.
