Cricket: Yorkshire move over ground

Yorkshire yesterday made the first steps towards resolving their dispute with Headingley's owners by suggesting both parties return to the negotiating table.

Secret talks broke up last week with Paul Caddick, the chairman of Leeds Cricket Football and Athletic Club, claiming Yorkshire had walked out in protest at a planned press release.

But at a press conference yesterday, the Yorkshire chief executive, Chris Hassell, stressed: "We would be quite happy to begin negotiations again with Mr Caddick.

"We have received a number of ultimatums and threats which we are not too pleased about. We we have been trying to negotiate in an acceptable manner."

Hassell claimed Caddick's proposals to re-develop Headingley "lacked substance" and were "no more than a model proposal''.

Yorkshire claim they entered talks with Caddick to discuss the viability of Headingley's re-development and insist their proposed move to a purpose- built stadium in Wakefield was still "very much alive''.

Caddick welcomed Hassell's invitation to re-open talks, saying: "We do not intend to open a public debate on the details of our negotiations.''