Mark Alleyne returns to Gloucestershire as head coach

As first reported by The Cricketer, Alleyne is returning on a three-year deal to the county where he made his name both as a player and a coach

Mark Alleyne has returned to Gloucestershire as their head coach, replacing Dale Benkenstein.

As first reported by The Cricketer, Alleyne is returning to the county where he made his name both as a player and a coach. So much so that a mural portrait covers one of the walls by the entrance to the ground.

Alleyne has agreed a three-year deal as he begins his second stint as head coach at the county where he was also a successful captain. He will join up with a squad that he already knows well – Alleyne was Ian Harvey's assistant in 2021 – at the beginning of March, and he arrives after Benkenstein left for Lancashire.

He joins from Glamorgan, where he was white-ball head coach in 2023, before the Welsh county opted to return to a single head coach model, hiring Grant Bradburn. Alleyne had been set to remain on his coaching staff.

"I'm feeling truly blessed to be given the opportunity to lead Gloucestershire, a county I have many happy memories of from during my playing days," said Alleyne.

"I'm now at a time in my career where I've been exposed to coaching right at the top level for a number of years and have gained lots of experience, and I'm hoping the skills I've picked up along the way will allow me to have a positive impact on the team.

"I know a lot of the players already from my time here in 2021 and it's been brilliant to see many of those younger players come through the ranks to dominate the first team. There is a really exciting blend of youth and experience at Gloucestershire and that's why when the opportunity came up, I didn't give it a second thought. I can't wait to get started and am excited to see what the future holds."

^{Alleyne has worked with England on a short-term consultancy basis (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)}

As part of a lengthy process, The Cricketer understands that current assistant coach William Porterfield was also interviewed, as was player-coach Tom Smith. Anton Roux, the South African, was among several external candidates.

Since his previous spell as Gloucestershire head coach came to an end after the 2007 season, Alleyne has also worked in The Hundred with Welsh Fire and occasionally with England's white-ball sides. He has also been head of cricket at Marlborough College.

Alleyne, though, is best remembered for his playing days at Nevil Road; he captained Gloucestershire to nine trophies and a promotion in seven years, and he is generally recognised as one of the best white-ball cricketers to represent the club.

Gloucestershire chief executive Will Brown described it as "absolutely fantastic" to bring Alleyne back into the fold.

"We saw some incredible people during the interview process, but it was clear that Mark's combination of skills and experience made him the stand-out candidate for the role and alongside assistant coaches like Will Porterfield and Tom Smith we know we now have an exciting and progressive coaching team."

The Cricketer understands that the county are also closing in on overseas signings for 2024 ahead of a pre-season tour to Stellenbosch.

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