Middlesex board to meet next week as search for new chair drags on

NICK FRIEND: Middlesex are searching for a successor to Mike O'Farrell, but none of seven candidates initially interviewed have been appointed

Middlesex are braced to restart their search for a new chair, with none of the seven candidates originally interviewed appointed to the role.

They have been actively looking for Mike O'Farrell's successor since late November, when an advert appeared on the club's website.

The Cricketer understands that the matter is to be discussed at a board meeting next week. The likelihood is that the process will be reopened.

The specification put out two months ago outlined the ideal candidate as "an individual of outstanding achievement, with the time, passion and commitment to devote to the board and associated stakeholders at this important time in the development of the sport, representing the club at a variety of levels ranging from local recreational cricket clubs and associations through to the government, and the ECB and MCC".

^{Middlesex have been actively looking for a new chair since late November [Getty Images]}

Ed Warner, who spent a decade as chair of UK Athletics, was one of the candidates; The Cricketer understands that he was interviewed twice for the post.

He described the process in City AM as "at turns fascinating, frustrating, farcical and fun".

"It was clear that questions about equality, diversity and inclusion would be front and centre," he wrote, admitting his surprise at what he considered a "lack of emphasis at interview on sporting success, especially for the men's elite squad".

The principal responsibilities documented in the job advert mainly relate to governance, inclusion and community matters; Middlesex – promoted back to Division One of the County Championship in September after a five-year hiatus – employ Richard Johnson as first-team coach, Alan Coleman as director of cricket, Mark Lane as player pathway head coach and Andrew Cornish as chief executive to lead the playing side of the business. Stuart Law was sacked as head coach last winter following a performance review.

^{The Cricketer understands Ed Warner, who spent a decade as chair of UK Athletics, was interviewed twice for the role [Andy Lyons/Getty Images]}

Much of O'Farrell's recent work in the part-time role, therefore, has been spent on discussions pertaining to the ECB's high-performance review, which again is set out as an ongoing commitment for the new chair.

The advert also states that "the successful candidate is likely to have a strong background of experience gained in a number of possible sectors such as a corporate, sporting environment or not for profit and is likely to have experience as a trustee or non-executive director with a strong understanding of risk and governance together with a collaborative approach and desire to bring their skills and commitment to further develop cricket across the county both at the elite and recreational level and ensuring our sport remains inclusive to all within our community".

Last year, the ECB were forced into a similar position of restarting their process for the appointment of a new permanent chair, with an 11-month period between the resignation of Ian Watmore and the eventual arrival of Richard Thompson in August.

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