Knight lands officials' role

11 January 2008

ACO chairman Roger Knight

Former MCC secretary and chief executive Roger Knight OBE will chair the newly-created ECB’s Association of Cricket Officials with immediate effect.

The ECB Association of Cricket Officials was formed on January 1 when the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers voted for the establishment of the ACO. Roger Knight has agreed to act as interim chairman to oversee the new organisation and arrange for the appointment of a management board as soon as possible.

Speaking on the appointment, ECB director of cricket partnerships Mike Gatting said: “The ACU&S did a fantastic job in developing umpire and scorer training courses for over 50 years, but by joining forces with the ECB can now take this work to new levels.

"We are delighted and honoured to have Roger Knight on board to take this role at a crucial time for officials in the sport and look forward to working with umpires, scorers, ECB and county personnel to ensure that England and Wales continue to produce quality officials at all levels of the game."

In 2007, Roger Knight was awarded honorary life membership of Marylebone Cricket Club, having served MCC from 1994 to 2006 as its secretary and chief executive.