Any one who can add up can see there isn't money in the game to support all the 2nd XI's, youth sides and all the administration, coaches etc that come with it without the handouts from the ECB, cricket isn't football. Each county should have a 1st team squad, then take players from the leagues when needed or form dictates, scrap 2nd XI cricket (I think we've discussed this before). The ECB should then pump money into improving league cricket, grounds, practice facilities etc, which can be used by all levels within the club and local schools. The end goal would be for county teams to have less financial dependencies, a better level of league cricket, with better facilities to develop players for county cricket and for local schools to use to bring youngsters into the game. The ECB could still run u17 u19 etc youth teams for the better young league players who have broken into the county set up (through performances at club level) . The ECB would then stop feeding the bloated counties and instead feed grass roots, getting youngsters into the game and making league cricket the bedrock of our game. Other lower league clubs would also benefit with more youngsters playing the game and finding their own level of cricket.