Agree, this is not a stuff up, it's a backflip, because if they wanted to go to 20 teams, they could. They are choosing not to, and the only variable is the change from Tamblyn to Thomas. Given the Regional restructure is Thomas' baby, one has to wonder whether his lack of progress there has influenced the decision. Very disturbing to say the least.
If CV have abandoned their strategy of bringing existing clubs into Premier Cricket to achieve their expansion aims, maybe they have resigned themselves to spending serious money on establishing new facilities in growth corridors and giving existing Premier clubs in non-growth areas strong incentives to re-locate. After all, it is not so long ago Tamblyn suggested HMU relocate to Chirnside Park. Backflip, stuff-up, call it what one will it is as you say ''very disturbing to say the least''.