ECB appoint new director of communications

Colin Gibson, the former director of communications at the Football Association, has been appointed in the equivalent role at the England & Wales Cricket Board, as the successor to John Read, who left the post last year.

The appointment is the most high-profile part of the ECB's revamp of their commercial and communications departments, and David Collier, the ECB's chief executive, was looking forward to getting to work with Gibson.

"These appointments will complete our senior management team at the ECB, position ourselves to fulfil our sponsorship agreements, and enhance the ECB's communications," said Collier. "They will enable the ECB to further develop the relationships with our partners to expand cricket in England and Wales at all levels.

Gibson, a former sports editor at both the Daily Mail and the Sunday Telegraph, was forced to resign from the FA after just seven months in that role, after his attempt to cover up a sex scandal that rocked Soho Square.

It was revealed that Gibson had offered to strike a deal with The News of the World, giving full details of an affair between Sven Goran Eriksson, England's head coach, and Faria Alam, an FA secretary, on the condition that no mention was made of Mark Palios, the FA chief executive who had also had an affair with Ms Alam.

That sordid chapter is closed now, however, and Gibson will take up his new position at the ECB on April 4. "It is a hugely exciting time for our game," added Collier, "and I'm delighted to have this calibre of staff on board."