The Club advertised the four positions to fill the new coaching structure in October and sought applications from external candidates and from the incumbents of the previous coaching regime. While the Club looks forward to the future it is with regret that we say goodbye to four very popular men with a passion for Yorkshire cricket who have given significant service to the Club.

Craig White, who first played for Yorkshire in 1990 and who had been the Assistant to the Director of Professional Cricket, chose not to re-apply for a position in the new coaching structure and is pursuing a new career goal of becoming a professional umpire.

Steve Oldham, Kevin Sharp and John Blain all applied for the new positions, but were unsuccessful. Sharp opted to take redundancy after not being offered the role of 2nd Team Coach.

Oldham (63) has been associated with Yorkshire CCC since he first played for the Club in 1974. He was instrumental in establishing the Yorkshire CCC Academy system and the list of bowlers whose expertise he has enhanced with his own reads like a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of English bowling.

Sharp (52) first played for the Club in 1976 and, as a coach, has assisted in the development of Yorkshire’s batsman with his dedication and drive.

Blain (32) first played for the White Rose County in 2004 and has coached at the Club since 2008, enjoying success in the development of the county’s long list of young talent.

Martyn Moxon said: “It’s been extremely difficult because I’m obviously friends with all of those guys and have known them for a long time, particularly the more senior coaches – I’ve known them a very long time. So from a personal point-of-view it’s been a really tough time. We need to make the changes, it had to be done and you have to put your personal feelings to one side and make professional judgments. We have to look forward now, but it has been quite a challenging period. I want to thank the coaches for the work and help they have put in and obviously wish them all well for the future.”

Everyone at Yorkshire County Cricket Club joins Martyn in thanking all four men for their hard work over the years and we wish them all the best in their future lives.

JAMES BUTTLER