Management structure to be reviewed

Leicestershire are to conduct an independent review of the club's constitution and management and executive structure.

A five-man committee, which will include Leicestershire's former secretary -manager Mike Turner, will look into all aspects of the way the club is run and submit their findings by the end of January.

Newly appointed general manager Kevin Hill explained: "We felt it was time that we had a look at ourselves, and it is something I was keen to have implemented.

"The findings of the independent inquiry will be submitted to the club by January 31 and the committee will then look at the contents of those findings."

In addition to Mike Turner four other people have been asked to form the review body. They are John Sinnott, chief executive of Leicestershire County Council and chairman of the Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket Board; John Allen, an accountant and Leicester Tigers committee member; Adrian Weston, a retired solicitor and legal adviser to the club for many years; and Barrie Pierpoint who has joined the club as a marketing consultant.

Hill said: " They have been asked to present a written report to the club and myself by January 31."

The new general manager has also jumped to the defence of his predecessor James Whitaker, insisting that all the contractual negotiations he has conducted have been at the instruction of the committee.

Hill said: "After handing in his notice James was asked by the committee to conclude and handle the contractual situations.James has done that under very strict control of the cricket chairman, Paul Haywood.

"There is a misconception that James has made some unilateral decisions. Despite what has been put in the press and alleged, I can assure you that is not the case. Every decision that James has carried out has been at the instruction of the committee."