British Cycling are due to vote on governance reforms on Saturday ©British Cycling

British Cycling President Bob Howden has expressed his "disappointment" that people are supposedly attempting to "slow, stop or even reverse" planned reforms before an Extraordinary General Meeting in Manchester on Saturday (July 22).

A failure to pass the reform measures will throw into jeopardy their chances of receiving £43 million ($56 million/€49 million) of public funding from Sport England and UK Sport.

They are dependent on a 75 per cent majority at the meeting.

But three of 10 regional groups have opposed the measures, meaning they are currently unlike to hit the required level.

"I am concerned by the rejection of the proposals by three of the 10 English regional mandate meetings," Howden said in a statement.

"British Cycling is going through a period of necessary change partly to ensure we are compliant with the Code of Sports Governance but, more importantly, to help us meet our ambition to be a world class governing body. 

"It is therefore disappointing that a few people are seeking to slow, stop or even reverse that change.

"Ahead of the EGM, we presented to our regions about the importance of this vote and the need to modernise our structure. 

"British Cycling has grown significantly in recent years and it’s essential that we recognise that growth and ensure that we are in the best possible position to service all of our membership and sport as a whole."

British Cycling President Bob Howden has warned of the danger of reform proposals being rejected by the membership at an Extraordinary General Meeting in Manchester on Saturday ©British Cycling
British Cycling President Bob Howden has warned of the danger of reform proposals being rejected by the membership at an Extraordinary General Meeting in Manchester on Saturday ©British Cycling

Proposed reforms include the election of an independent chairman and limiting directors to three three-year terms.

Concerns relate to the proposed severity of these changes.

Earlier this month, Table Tennis England chairman Sandra Deaton warned the future of the governing body is "at risk" after they lost access to £9 million ($12 million/€10 million) in Sport England funding following a narrow failure to pass their reforms.

Deaton also hit out at "individuals with their own agendas" after they fell 0.07 per cent short of the 75 per cent figure.

"Our 136,000 membership should be in no doubt that what is at risk is not only the funding for the Great Britain Cycling Team but our ability to support the grassroots of every part of our sport in every part of the country," Howden added.

"Without this funding the sport of cycling could be lost to an entire generation. 

"This is no bluff, Table Tennis England chose to reject the reforms and had their Sport England funding suspended. 

"We can’t allow this to happen.

"We can choose to be a sport which has a leading role in the public life of this country, where our voice is heard at the highest level, where participation among women is surging and where our riders are the standard by which sporting success is judged.

"Or we can choose to turn the clock back 30 or more years to when we were on the margins, when our membership was much less diverse and when our best talent struggled to compete.

"As someone who cares passionately about the sport that has given me so much and to which I have been happy to give a great deal, it is clear to me that the correct way forward is to vote the proposals through."