Whitaker leaves Leicestershire role

James Whitaker has had many roles at Leicestershire including captain, player and manager © Getty Images

James Whitaker has left his role as director of cricket at Leicestershire, ending an association with the club that dates back to 1983. He has been involved as a player, captain, general manager and director of cricket at Grace Road.

He led the county to the Championship title in 1996 and 1998 and he was in his director role when Leicestershire won the Twenty20 Cup in 2004. However, changes to the management structure will now see the club appoint a senior coach although the head coach Phil Whitticase, who is also head of development and academy boss, will retain his position.

The chairman, Neil Davidson, said: "James Whitaker has made a huge contribution to this club as a player, captain, general manager and director of cricket. The board would like to thank him for all that he has done and wish him well in the future. We are sure that he will want to continue in cricket and again be successful."

Davidson added that the new role of senior coach was being developed because the club wanted to place more emphasis on bringing through the young talent. "The crop of talented young players we now have at Grace Road present us with an excellent opportunity to move the club in the right direction.

"Therefore, it is the board's intention to appoint a senior coach in the not-too-distant future who offers a more hands-on approach in working closely with all the players. We consider this the way to get the best out of them and achieve the club's long-term objectives."