Citizen Sport
Lancashire CCC apologise to David Lloyd over mix-up
3:37pm Thursday 1st September 2011
Lancashire have apologised to former England coach David Lloyd after stewards mistakenly told to him leave the Members' Bar at Old Trafford before last night's Twenty20 international against India.
A "livid" Lloyd, a life member of Lancashire and a president of Accrington Cricket Club, claimed in today's Daily Mail he had been manhandled and forcibly removed from the bar by stewards who believed he did not have the correct accreditation.
After a stand-off Lloyd said he was told he had "two minutes to leave the area" before being ushered out.
"I'm absolutely flipping livid,' he said.
'I'm a life member and ex-captain of the club. I pointed out I was just looking at a few photos, and mentioned that I was in most of them.
"They asked me whether I was refusing to leave, and when I said I was going nowhere, two of them grabbed me by the arms "I said, 'We're in a stalemate here, because I'm not moving'.
"So they marched me a few paces before this other fellow steps in and tells me I've got two minutes to get out.
"It seems to be the only ground in the world where they go out of their way to be obstructive.
"You couldn't make it up."
Lancashire apologised for the incident in a statement this afternoon which read: "There has been a good deal of sensitivity about security for players in the last 12 months and particularly around the Indian team, but there are no excuses for what happened.
"Sadly, common sense didn't prevail which unfortunately caused embarrassment to David and to the club.
"We have personally met with David to apologise and we are already thoroughly investigating the incident with the individuals concerned.
"We are clearly disappointed with what occurred on what was otherwise a very successful evening for Old Trafford."