Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC) has posted record annual pre-tax profits of £752,000 for 2009 - a 29 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

The club reported a 6 per cent year-on-year increase in turnover to £25.5m despite challenging conditions, driven by the hosting of an Ashes Test match and the ICC World Twenty20. SCCC chief executive Paul Sheldon said: "We need to continue to produce these levels of profit in order to meet our commitments to professional and recreational cricket in Surrey by investing in players and other grassroots initiatives, as well as servicing our debt on the OCS stand and continuing the improvement of our ground.

"As we look to the future, we are very conscious of the need to diversify our income streams - and we expect to continue the expansion of our business activities through the building of a new hotel at the ground, in partnership with Arora International."