Yorkshire chief thanks Adams

Stewart Regan © Empics

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan has thanked Chris Adams for changing his mind about joining the club at such an early stage last year.

Sussex captain Adams left Yorkshire in limbo before Christmas when he accepted the roles of skipper and director of cricket only to change his mind after being paraded at Headingley.

The U-turn compounded the club’s winter problems, coming on top of a contract dispute with all-rounder Anthony McGrath and the loss of batsmen Darren Lehmann and Michael Lumb.

Regan is confident all those troubles have now been consigned to the past, with the last week seeing Darren Gough and Martyn Moxon return to the county in senior roles and McGrath agree to stay.

Former captain Moxon was appointed as the club’s new director of professional cricket on Thursday, a week after he resigned as head coach at Durham.

His return also comes a week after Gough accepted an offer to rejoin his native county, as skipper, from Essex.

It has been a quick turnaround and Regan believes Adams’ surprise decision may even turn out to benefit the county.

“I would rather he told me then than leave it to today,” Regan said of Adams.

“We would really have been in the mire then, so I was relieved in many ways.

“He gave us the best part of three months to get a solution in place and I’d like to thank him because I think the solution we’ve got in place is fantastic.”

Chris Adams decided to stay at Sussex © Getty Images

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Yorkshire’s squad reported back for pre-season training on Thursday and Regan can already feel a difference in the atmosphere at Headingley.

“I think the last three weeks have been very exciting for the club,” he said.

“From a situation during the Christmas period when it was all doom and gloom, it’s all come together.

“There is a real buzz about the place, everybody is up for it and looking forward to the season. We can’t wait.

“I’ve described the winter on a number of occasions as like a giant game of snakes and ladders.

“We were going along happily and then, all of a sudden, we were back down the snake.

“It was frustrating more than anything else.

“Eventually, we have got it all to come together. Getting Martyn Moxon and Darren Gough is the dream team. It’s the last piece in the jigsaw and that’s persuaded Anthony to stay.”

Martyn Moxon left Durham for Yorkshire © Getty Images

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Moxon was unveiled alongside Ian Dews, who moves up from Academy boss to the newly-created position of director of cricket operations.

Yorkshire have effectively split up the role of previous director of cricket David Byas, with Moxon focusing largely on first-team matters and Dews taking on a more wide-ranging role, including youth development and community work.

A number of names had been linked with the director of cricket post, including former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald, but Regan is sure Yorkshire have got the right man.

Moxon played for the county from 1981-97 and was on their coaching staff until leaving for Durham in 2001.

Regan said: “Allan Donald was on the shortlist and was a strong candidate but we just felt, with Goughie as captain and Martyn as coach, there was a real complement there that would suit us.”