Morris drops out of chairman race

Sir Bill Morris, the former trade union leader, has withdrawn his candidature for the post of ECB chairman.

He was initially not a candidate to succeed David Morgan, who will become the ICC president, and was expected to contest the second ballot after the first between Mike Soper and Giles Clarke ended in a tie with nine votes each.

In spite of drumming up support from the 18 counties, as well as the MCC, Morris has decided against fighting Soper and Clarke.

Nominations close for the second ballot at 5pm on September 3. Ballot papers will then be issued by the Electoral Reform Society on September 10 with that stage closing two weeks later on September 24.

The results of the ballot will be announced September 25 and the new chairman will begin his role in October 2007.