Gidney replaces Cumbes at Lancashire

Lancashire have announced the appointment of Daniel Gidney as Jim Cumbes' successor as chief executive of the club. Cumbes, 68, who joined Lancashire as a player 50 years ago, is due to retire at the end of 2012, with Gidney joining from Ricoh Arena, the holding company that operates Coventry City's ground, where he occupied a similar role.

Gidney will take charge at Old Trafford for 2013, with Lancashire set to unveil a brand new pavilion in the spring before the ground returns to hosting Test cricket during the Ashes in August.

Lancashire chairman, Michael Cairns, said: "We are delighted to appoint Daniel, whose experience and track record in overseeing a highly regarded sporting venue will serve our business well as we embark on a new and exciting era.

"Daniel will be taking over from our well-respected and long-serving chief executive Jim Cumbes. Jim initially joined the club as a player and made his debut in 1962. He returned to Old Trafford as sales and marketing manager in 1987 before becoming chief executive in 1998.

"Jim was a key member of the team throughout what has been a monumental period for the club which saw us ultimately overcome a number of potentially devastating hurdles to be in the position where we are today. Everybody connected with Lancashire County Cricket Club owes a tremendous amount of gratitude to Jim for his unfaltering service to cricket and the business of cricket over the years and we all wish him well in his retirement."