Mike Soper may challenge ECB chairman Giles Clarke

London, July 14 (IANS) England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke can soon find his position under threat.

Mike Soper, the man Clarke narrowly defeated to the job on a second ballot last September, indicated Sunday that he might stand again for the elections.

According to Daily Telegraph, newspaper reports have suggested that seven counties are willing to vote against Clarke if he seeks re-election next spring.

Clarke was quick to criticise the plans of proposed, Indian Premier League-based Twenty20 tournament and it is his combative style that Soper attacked Sunday. 'I don't like the way he says 'I don't like it' or 'I am against it'. When I was with David Morgan it was always the board who made that decision. It should not be a one-man show,' Sopers said.

Clarke has attracted significant investment into English cricket thanks to his deal with Sir Allen Stanford for a series of Twenty20 matches worth $100 million. But Soper said: 'I hate to think this game of ours could be bastardised. I would like to have seen a deal where half of the money went to the counties for development.'

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