Closing Kolpak loophole won't help anyone, says Leicester chief

England Cricket Board officials are awaiting a ruling from the European Commission that is expected to end the entitlement of migrant workers, including cricketers from countries such as South Africa and the West Indies, to freedom of movement within the EU. But, according to Davidson, that decision "would do nothing to stop the recruitment of not qualified cricketers with British or European passports who play here under the Bosman ruling".

Bosman is a term far more widely used in football than cricket because it completely changed the transfer system. But Davidson insists it is also significant in the national summer game with the majority of so-called Kolpak recruits signing under the same ruling.

"The ECB's obsession with this issue is ill-advised," he said.

Leicestershire, along with Northants, are widely considered to be the biggest Kolpak culprits, often fielding four or five players.

But Davidson claims his county give first-team appearances to more young, England-qualified players than most others.

Last year, he suggested that counties should field a minimum of four England qualified under-25s in every championship match.

Yorkshire, according to Davidson's figures, are the biggest supporters of young English talent, averaging 5.5 under-25s every championship match.

But Leicestershire and Durham, another county that uses plenty of Kolpak signings, are near the top of that particular table and among only six counties to meet his target of four per game. Davidson is particularly scathing about Surrey, a county that refused to go down the Kolpak route for several years but who have a high proportion of veteran England-qualified players who are unlikely to be picked by their country.

"Surrey, the richest club in the country, the recipient of a highly beneficial long-term international match-staging agreement from the ECB, are rock bottom [of his under-25 table with an average of 0.5 per game] despite their relative wealth, academy and catchment area," said the Leicestershire chairman. The ECB warned counties this week that Sport England might stop funding their academies if youngsters are not being given the chance to win first-team places.

"The fall in the average number of young cricketers in the Championship has to be a major concern," added Davidson. "Crude protectionism is no answer and, if successful, could do even more damage to our domestic game and, ultimately, the England team."