Not long after, a ceasefire was called by Pollock after all his mid-week broadsides. No, he would not now be calling for the special general meeting that he had threatened after collecting a petition with the signatures of 100 disgruntled members. Peace at the genteel Northlands Road ground had broken out as quickly as hostilities had started.
Chairman Brian Ford and chief executive Tony Baker handled the meeting with skill, frequently playing dead bats and fending off bouncers from questioners. Not everyone was satisfied by their answers, however. The most articulate inquisitor spoke near the end, curtly noting: ``This is a business that this club has failed miserably at over the past three years. What are we going to do about it? I think the main issues are not being addressed.''
Ford and Baker, of course, would not accept this was the case. They took several blows on the chin, most amusingly when one member complained about the regular line in Ford's annual letter that ``last year was bad but next year's going to be super''. That brought the house down, showing the essential good humour of those present, most of whom seemed content just to get various gripes off their chest. Appeasement seemed to appeal to many, but Sir John Bowater would not accept it. ``A lot of members are not happy with this meeting and we need to go further.'' The few who could hear him applauded, which caused one end of the tent to laugh as Bowater had looked like a mime artist.
Pollock had come swearing that he would not be fobbed off, but so diplomatically was the meeting handled that he declared afterwards that an SGM, costing £5,000, would not achieve anything. ``I'm fairly satisfied with the answers and I hope management have seen the strength of feeling amongst members and will take on board what has been said. But I reserve the right to come back at a later date for an SGM if necessary.''
Ford said there would be further forums in future and acknowledged a prominent complaint - that Hampshire's young cricketers are not coming through. Earlier, he had given full backing to the captaincy of John Stephenson, whom one member had described as making Mike Atherton look cheerful. Cue considerable merriment and Ford's defence that ``John just looks very focused.''