Auckland Cricket has won approval from New Zealand Cricket to implement its own initiative to support grass roots cricket in its area.

Auckland chief executive Lindsay Crocker said while the methodology Auckland was using differed from the model New Zealand Cricket wanted to apply, the end result was the same.

Auckland, with its own problems, has developed its own strategy to breathe life into the game below first-class level.

"Because we ought to know what is best for our area, NZC have said to us, 'Go ahead,'" Crocker said.

Because NZC is increasingly the funds generator for the game in this country, Auckland had to convince NZC that it knew its market.

"They were more than satisfied and now we're going to be able to assist our clubs to better administer their affairs.

"It will be in different forms for different clubs. Some clubs will be looking to employ a manager, others who already have a good structure managed by volunteers may employ a coach, others may choose to do nothing," he said.

Auckland, New Zealand's biggest metropolis, has a good geographical spread of clubs and the goal of Auckland Cricket was to help clubs be strong enough to grow cricket in their own areas.

Many of the clubs were struggling at a subsistence level and nothing more, mainly because of the lack of time people could commit to their clubs.

But some are already well down the path to implementing strategies to ensure their futures.

Crocker has set a three-year target of having Auckland's clubs well governed and soundly managed.

"Clubs have to understand what their job is. It is up to clubs to offer playing opportunities in their area. A lot haven't appreciated their role in developing relationships with schools in their area," he said.

Once money is provided by NZC on approved schemes offered by clubs, Auckland Cricket will offer the quality control to make sure schemes are honoured.

No figures are available as Crocker said this first year was an embryo year with some clubs ready and others not. But the real impact would be over next year and beyond.

© CricInfo