Somerset announce new chairman

Somerset have announced their replacement chairman for Giles Clarke, the new ECB chairman. The club's deputy chairman Andy Nash will formally take over in January, when Clarke steps down at the club AGM. Clarke's appointment at the ECB is an independent role which means he will have to stand down as Somerset chairman.

Nash was voted in unanimously by the full committee to review Somerset's performance this year and finalise planning for 2008.

Club president Roy Kerslake welcomed the new appointment: "Andy has been an excellent deputy chairman, and it is a natural progression for him to move up to become chairman.

"He has been an extremely competent deputy chairman, with the right commercial and business experience to carry on the good work already under way, which is aimed at ensuring that Somerset consistently compete at the highest levels of domestic cricket, and that our facilities are improved for the benefit of members and supporters."

Nash, who lives in Taunton with his family, moved from Cadbury Schweppes to become commercial director of Taunton Cider in 1987.

Clarke said: " I leave Somerset with a certain degree of sadness, but I know that the club, in the hands of Andy Nash, Roy Kerslake, and Richard Gould, and on the playing side Brian Rose and Andy Hurry, and under Justin Langer; inspiring leadership on the field, will go to greater heights."