Robin Smith returns as Yorkshire chairman after Steve Denison's resignation

Robin Smith, the former chairman of Leeds Building Society, has been reappointed as the chairman of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, in the wake of the resignation of the previous incumbent Steve Denison.

Smith, 75, was previously Yorkshire chairman between 2003 and 2006, and has more recently been deputy chairman and senior independent director.

His return to the role was unanimously agreed during a meeting at Headingley on Monday.

Denison, who spent three years as Yorkshire chairman, stood down on Tuesday in the wake of an investigation into the collapse of the high-street chain, BHS, that led to him being fined and removed from the register of statutory auditors for 15 years.

Denison had been lead partner on the BHS audit ahead of its controversial sale by Philip Green in 2014.

Although Denison had previously indicated he hoped to stay in his position at Yorkshire, ECB regulations required him to step down after serving on the board for six years - three as chairman.

"It's with deep regret that I'm resigning from the board of Yorkshire CCC with immediate effect," Denison said in a statement last week. "Despite enjoying wide-ranging support from the club's stakeholders, including directors, staff and members, I believe the ECB's regulations mean that I'm unable to remain in post and I don't want my situation to be a distraction at a time when cricket is going through a crucial period of change."

"To say I'm heartbroken is a massive understatement at what has already been an incredibly difficult time for me and my family."