Just when it looked as though the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers had got over what had been an unhappy year with the resignation of Barrie Stuart King and David Burden, it has been hit by a request for a Special Annual General Meeting which has been called at the behest of 51 paid up members.

The meeting will be held at the Derbyshire County Cricket Ground on Saturday 21 January 2006.

On the Agenda are items calling for the immediate removal from all offices of the Association and debarment from holding any office for a period of five years in respect of Peter Freeman, David Brandon and Chris Rawson.

It is also proposed that Barrie Stuart King be expelled from the Association with immediate effect and no application for readmission be considered for a period of ten years.

Other members of General Council will be requested to reconsider their position and if the proposals go through General Council and the Finance Board will be instructed to pursue recovery of monies from any appropriate quarter.

A further 15 members have been named as intending to form the Institute of Cricket Officials whilst still active officers of the ACU & S which is in contravention of Constitution Clause J(1) and a resolution to suspend them will be voted on.

All in all it seems as though this will be an acrimonious meeting with possible implications which could reverberate throughout the umpiring community.