NICK HOWSON: The former South Africa spinner held the role on an interim basis during the 2022 season but will remain on a long-term basis following a three-person interview process
Leicestershire have installed Claude Henderson as their permanent director of cricket.
The 50-year-old, who played seven Tests and four one-day internationals for South Africa, served in an interim capacity during the 2022 season.
Henderson spent 10 summers at Grace Road as a player and was part of all three T20 Blast title wins in 2004, 2006 and 2011.
Having played a key role in their past, he will now have the opportunity to shape part of their future.
The Cricketer understands the former left-arm spinner was interviewed alongside two other candidates, with each asked to provide in-depth presentations regarding their vision for the club, before eventually being selected to remain.
Henderson and Nixon combined to help win three Blast titles for the Running Foxes (Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Chief executive Sean Jarvis reintroduced the role for the first time since 2014 to oversee the cricket pillar, which includes head coach Paul Nixon and head of talent pathway Jigar Naik, on a trial basis but was quickly convinced by the structure.
On top of a playing career last over 20 years and coaching spells with England men and The Proteas before returning to Leicestershire, Henderson studied for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualification to ensure he was the rounded candidate that Jarvis demanded.
There is no avoiding the difficulty around the position amid the current climate. Debate is raging regarding Andrew Strauss' high-performance review, which proposes the LV= Insurance County Championship be split into a six-team premier division and two feeder leagues.
The proposals, which include the number of matches being reduced from 14 to 10, require two-thirds of counties to vote for them (several have publicly opposed them) and Jarvis says it would cut Leicestershire's income by £250,000 and put a "potential nail in a coffin".
Leicestershire endured a winless red-ball season (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
On the field, Nixon's side are reeling from a fourth winless County Championship season in the last 10 which saw them finish bottom of the pile for the eighth time in the previous 14.
They reached the Royal London Cup quarter-finals, losing to eventual winners Kent, but a points deduction for ill-discipline cost them qualification for the T20 Blast knock-out stages.
Henderson is already laying the groundwork for next season. Trimming the squad - six players including Hassan Azad have already departed - is underway. Ben Mike's move to Yorkshire and George Rhodes' exit had already been confirmed.
The search for an addition to the batting coaching cupboard is also expected to be completed imminently.
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