NEW Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton has been discussing the challenges the county faces, with the country having been hit for six by the coronavirus pandemic.

He said he is confident that those in senior positions at Yorkshire are dealing with matters in the right way and feels the White Rose are in an “incredibly strong position” compared to other counties.

So where does he see Yorkshire, in terms of its growth as a county and as a business?

He said: “If you had been asking me this question four to six weeks ago, I would have said, ‘We’ve got a sensational stadium, a great executive team and staff in general, we’ve assembled a brilliant squad for the year, and we’ve just had the best financial year going’.

“At that stage, thinking what have I got to do and what have I not got to do, it would have been a case of, ‘Just don’t mess it up’.

“There are obviously challenges which have been thrown upon us, but we have to stay positive.

“I think there is a strong chance there will be some cricket played in Yorkshire before the year is out. I just hope that’s sooner rather than later.

“Mark Arthur (Yorkshire chief executive) and his team, along with previous boards, have organised the club in a very impressive way. It’s run with a fairly lean team behind the scenes, who are very effective.

“We’ve also developed one of the best facilities outside of London for international cricket.

“When you compare that with many other clubs, Yorkshire are in an incredibly strong position. You have to have that in your head.

“Then, you have got to think that Mark Arthur has developed a great relationship with the ECB, therefore he will undoubtedly be pushing Yorkshire’s cause as hard as anyone can do. And I will be supporting that.

“Tom Harrison (chief executive) at the ECB is doing a really good job liaising with the government, and they will tell us what we can and can’t do cricket wise. When we know that, we can then bring cricket back to Headingley.”