KIDDERMINSTER Victoria CC have signed a money-spinning deal with Worcestershire CCC to come to the county side's rescue if there is a repeat of last summer's flooding.

First class games will be moved to Chester Road at 48 hours notice if New Road is flooded, after the club signed a five-year deal with the Royals.

As part of the agreement the club will receive £50,000 from the county over five years to improve Chester Road's facilities.

The contract was signed after Kidderminster Victoria successfully hosted a handful of first class and Twenty20 games after New Road was reduced to a boggy field by heavy rain and flooding in July.

President and chairman Norman Broadfield said: "We are proud of our long and successful relationship with Worcestershire and are committed to helping them out in the name of cricket if the unthinkable happens and history repeats itself in any way.

"We have agreed to support their endeavours after discussions with the Birmingham and Worcestershire Cricket Leagues, who have, in turn, both been very supportive.

"We are all grateful for their approach and will work together to resolve any problems if flooding disrupts the Worcestershire season again".

The club hopes to improve the umpires room in the pavilion this year to bring it up to first class standard.

There are also plans in future years to update the current changing rooms and add two more on the ground level, in order to cater for extra teams playing at Chester Road.

The club is also investigating methods of raising extra cash for the ground improvements, including a loan from the English and Wales Cricket Board.

"We have improved the ground in the last few years and this deal with Worcestershire will allow us to continue the work," said Broadfield.

"The first phase will be to improve the umpire's rooms because at the moment they are only at Birmingham League level.

"But we also hope to add other improvements, such as new changing rooms, over the next two our three years. That will cost more but we are looking at ways to generate the money needed."

Kidderminster Victoria are also hoping to secure the services of wicketkeeper Josh Knappett for another season.

The Worcestershire man has been a success at Chester Road and topped the Birmingham League Premier Division averages for wicketkeeping last summer.

A new league ruling states that clubs can only have one county contracted player in its squad each season.

Kidderminster kick-off the season by taking on West Bromwich Dartmouth away in the Graham Williamson Trophy on Saturday, April 19, while they start the Premier Division at home to Wolverhampton on Saturday, May 3.

They have also been drawn against the winners of Cheltenham or Gloucester City in the Midlands round two of the Cockspur National Knockout Cup on Sunday, May 18.