Following the Azeem Rafiq racism issue, Yorkshire’s long-serving director of cricket Martyn Moxon and head coach Andrew Gale, as well as the entire coaching staff, have left. As the fallout from the Rafiq probe continues, Moxon has been signed off work owing to a stress-related illness, while Gale has been suspended pending a disciplinary hearing since November 9.
Lord Patel and Yorkshire
A statement from Yorkshire read: ‘We can confirm that Martyn Moxon, Director of Cricket, and Andrew Gale, First XI Coach, have left the Club today (3 December), in addition to all members of the coaching team.
‘A new Director of Cricket will be appointed imminently, alongside a new coaching team which is being recruited.’
Yorkshire claims a total of 16 people have left, including six members of the Pavilion Physiotherapy Clinic’s backroom medical staff, and that an interim medical team is being put together.
Lord Patel, Yorkshire chair, said: ‘Significant change is required at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and we are committed to taking whatever action is necessary to regain trust.
‘The decisions announced today were difficult to make, but are in the best interests of the club. Without making important changes to how we are run, we cannot move on from the past to become a culture which is progressive and inclusive.’
A Player Revolt
However, according to The Telegraph, the move has sparked a player revolt, with Lord Patel reportedly holding crisis talks with members of the squad on Friday amid widespread criticism of the huge clear-out. Some players are said to be so enraged that they are considering leaving.
The shake-up, which began with the retirement of chief executive Mark Arthur last month, is being led by new chairman Lord Patel. Former England batsman Gary Ballance, on the other hand, is expected to survive — at least for the time being — after admitting to calling Rafiq a ‘P**i’ on multiple occasions.
Situation after their Departure
The departure of coaching and medical staff will create a major void at Yorkshire, which must be filled quickly if the club is to be competitive next season.
Yorkshire hopes that taking decisive action would help mend bridges with the ECB, who have stripped them of international cricket next summer, in addition to removing individuals who failed to act on Rafiq’s repeated reports of racial abuse.
The club is eager to avoid further punishment from the national governing body, which could relegate them to the second division of the County Championship when the 2022 fixtures are released next month. They also want to reclaim one of England’s Tests against New Zealand and a one-day international against South Africa.
Aside from losing international matches, Yorkshire has been hurt hard by the majority of their sponsors abandoning connections with them, costing the club millions of pounds.
