DERBYSHIRE fear they will be denied the chance to cash in on the proposed English Premier League Twenty20 competition if new proposals are adopted.

Reports yesterday suggested that the idea of franchises has raised its head again.

The MCC, Surrey, Lancashire and Hampshire are believed to be behind a plan, to be discussed by the England and Wales Cricket Board this month, that the EPL should be contested between nine franchises based at the Test and one-day international venues.

The EPL is due to begin in 2010 and is viewed as English cricket's great pot of gold.

But Derbyshire chief executive Tom Sears is angry that a deal appears to have been put together in secret which would divert the bulk of the money into the pockets of the wealthier counties.

“It's never been discussed at any of the meetings I've been to,” Sears said.

“Apparently, two members of the ECB management board have put this proposal together, which I find quite astonishing.

“They have said that some of the money would filter down to the other counties and to the recreational game but they are saying it is going to be run by private investors. Private investors are going to want a return, the counties involved are going to want a return, so there is going to be precious little left over after that.

“It's not been discussed, it's all been done behind closed doors and you wonder how far the proposals have got – have they got investors lined up already?”

The greater long-term concern for Derbyshire and the other non-Test venue counties is that these proposals, if accepted, could provide ammunition for those who would like to see the number of counties cut in all cricket.

“It could be the first step,” he added. “If they get one competition with nine counties, they might quite fancy a Championship with nine counties.

“We have been told that 18 counties is sacrosanct and here we have a group plotting against that. That is potentially the end for the other nine counties.

“There will be a chairmen's meeting next week and I'm sure there will be some interesting questions asked.

“It will be interesting to see the chairman of the ECB's position, because I think he has been made to look a little awkward by this. Giles Clarke stood up at the AGM and said categorically that franchises were not on the agenda but two of the people on the management board are the prime movers behind this.

“It is very embarrassing for him, I would have thought. I'm sure he'll be asking some questions over the next few days as well.”