I HAVE just received a survey from Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in which they are surveying supporters’ views on a proposed renaming of the team for its T20 matches.

Their reasoning is that as the team is based in Bristol, it should be named Bristol XXXX.

This will not only completely alienate all supporters who do not live in Bristol but could have unintended consequences elsewhere in the country.

Just imagine the outcry from Lancashire supporters if their team were called Manchester XXXX, or Surrey supporters if they were called London or even Kennington XXXX.

It was only 18 months ago, in one of Will Brown’s first interviews after becoming chief executive, that he stated that: “Gloucestershire CCC have no plans to change their name yet, after fans were upset by his suggestion that rebranding the Twenty20 team might attract more support from the city in which they are based.”

Also: “I can’t imagine ever not having Gloucestershire in the title.”

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is, as its name implies, the team for the whole county, not just Bristol.

Just because the team is based in Bristol does not give the club the right to assume that they should drop the proud county name.

The club does not need a change of name to broaden its appeal.

An increase in support will naturally come from improved results season by season.

Roger Smith

Gloucester