Following Somerset's disappointing performances this season, which has seen them relegated to the second division in both the County Championship and the NUL National League, Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson has written to every one of the club's seven thousand members to apologise.

A copy of the complete letter is printed below so that every website reader has a chance to see exactly what Mr Anderson has to say.

For those who live locally the Somerset chief executive will be talking to Simon White on Somerset Sound just after nine o'clock on Tuesday morning.

In his letter which dropped onto member's doorsteps over the weekend Mr Anderson says:

`I am writing to apologise for the poor display by our players this season. It is true that they did exceptionally well to reach the final of the C & G Trophy Final and who will ever forget the exciting semi-final victory over Kent. However, this does not disguise the fact that too many of our performances seemed to lack enthusiasm, urgency, and the requisite application expected of professional players.

Vic Marks, our knowledgeable Cricket Chairman, will sit down with the coaching staff and some senior players to assess what went wrong and what is needed to rectify the situation. We are making financial provision to sign three players, including an additional overseas player, which will be communicated to you when contracts have been signed.

Some of you may feel puzzled (even resentful) that such a successful team of players in 2001 should be allowed to under-perform in 2002. Others will resign themselves to the historical fact that Somerset have disappointed and then resurrected themselves before. Whatever your feelings the fact remains that we have a very good County Cricket Club in Somerset. The ground, facilities, youth development, training and financial structures are the envy of many. All of this has to be converted into good performances on the field which is where our players have clearly let the Club, yourselves and themselves down this season.

Richard Parsons, our long-serving and most dedicated Chairman, will be stepping down at the end of this year. It is disappointing that this should occur on the back end of such a poor season, which has nothing to do with his decision to retire. He will be writing to you about an important change he recommends concerning the appointment of his successor which your Committee believes will assist the Club in expanding its income base in the sponsorship and corporate hospitality fields. Somerset need to do this if it is to firstly survive and then compete in what is now a very competitive county cricket scene.

Each and every coach and player will be interviewed and left in no uncertain terms as to what is expected of them in 2003. For most of them the message is quite simple – you got us down, you get us up. You too have a part to play in that process off the field by continuing to support Somerset County Cricket Club in the magnificent way you have done so in the past. It will be difficult getting out of Division II in both competitions. We can do it though if we all pull together.

What happened has depressed us all but it is not the end of the world; nor is it the end of Somerset County Cricket Club.'

As and when developments occur over the next few weeks they will be reported here on the Somerset website, which during the time since it started has become the major source of information regarding the club.

© SOMERSET