Former Nottinghamshire batsman Mike Smedley has been appointed President of the club for 2010, succeeding Professor Nat Puri.

Smedley was proposed by Nottinghamshire Chairman Peter Wright at the club’s Annual General meeting on Tuesday evening whilst former players Chris Broad and Eddie Hemmings were appointed as Vice Presidents.

Members present at County Hall were addressed by Ray Dawson, Chairman of the Commercial and Finance sub-committee, who confirmed that the club had recorded a pre-tax deficit of £148,761 in the last financial year.

This compares to a pre-tax surplus of £148,426 in the previous year with the difference attributed to the absence of a Test match at Trent Bridge in 2009.

The successful hosting of the ICC World Twenty20 had significantly undercut the anticipated seven-figure loss which had been planned for, but Chief Executive Derek Brewer said that the figures underlined the need to ensure that Test cricket prospered at Trent Bridge.

Mr Brewer praised the work of the club’s community and development department and thanked the club’s local authority partners and emda for their support for the recent redevelopment at Trent Bridge which paved the way for the successful bid to co-host the ICC World Twenty20.

Director of Cricket Mick Newell confirmed the signing of South African Test batsman Hashim Amla to provide cover for David Hussey in the opening seven weeks of the season and explained that fast bowler Charlie Shreck would not be fit for the start of the season as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery.

Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read was also present and thanked members for their support during his benefit year.