Sports letter: Playing fields must be forever

Sir: Following our ignominious Ashes defeat, it is not surprising that so many armchair critics have the problem solved. At the risk of joining this mob, may I make a couple of observations.

It is not just cricket that we should be concerned about. I have been a governor of a number of schools and colleges over the past 25 years, during which there has been a worrying policy of flogging off playing fields and, indeed, school sites to developers.

It will take a good number of years yet for many of our major team sports to recover from this short-term policy of eating the seed corn. No doubt we will recover - we always do - but it would be nice if the nutters were not quite so profligate with our assets.

BRIAN CLANCY

Altrincham,Cheshire