Episode three of the Sport, Structured podcast welcomes former Ashes-winning England captain Michael Vaughan to the studio as we turn our attention to the future for English county cricket. Hosted by James Cooper, the conversation unpacks the key findings of the newly launched Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report 2026. Vaughan, who wrote the report’s foreword, shares his views on how counties can work together and develop stronger player pathways. He is joined by another ex-England skipper - Leonard Curtis director Iain Nairn MBE, who led the England Physical Disability team - and Prof Rob Wilson, co-author of the report.

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Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction & meet the panel

2:02 – Report headlines: The widening financial gap

5:24 – Rating county cricket

7:31 – Yorkshire, demutualisation & outside investment

9:48 – ECB funding, collaboration & smaller counties' success stories

12:02 – Youth development: Playtime, burnout & pathways

16:27 – The £520 million question: Debt, Durham's hotel & smart spending

18:34 – Will The Hundred Survive? Lalit Modi's prediction & the calendar squeeze

21:41 – The 2028 broadcast deal & expanding The Hundred

23:04 – Sussex, Covid resets & the case for new franchises

24:56 – Grassroots engagement: The Barclays scheme & state school cricket

27:25 – Player digital footprints & social media revenue

29:36 – Could cricket have its own 'Drive to Survive'?

32:38 – Closing thoughts

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Read our sports finance reports here: https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sport-structured-ep3&utm_content=business-of-sport

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/

Follow Iain Nairn MBE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-nairn-mbe-9552675/

Follow Prof Rob Wilson on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/prof-rob-wilson-a8501428

Follow Michael Vaughan on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/michael-vaughan-7ba4641a1/

Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207

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Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ (UCFB) Manchester Podcast Studio

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Thank you to our UCFB student production team:

Rowan MacLellan, Editor

Calum Spiller, Autocue

Evie Malcom, Production assistant

Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting

Louis Jones, Audio

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Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.