New coaching structure at Kent County Cricket Club

KENT County Cricket Club today announced a new coaching structure in preparation for the 2010 season.

The Club has confirmed that for family reasons Graham Ford will not be able to return to the St Lawrence Ground next season. Having achieved so much, both he and the Club are keen to continue his links with Kent and are in discussions about how best this can be achieved.

As a result of the change to Graham Ford“s circumstances, the Club is to restructure its coaching team for next season. Paul Farbrace, who is currently on duty with Sri Lanka as part of their National coaching team, will return as First Team Coach and Simon Willis, currently Professional Cricket Manager, has been offered the role as Cricket Operations and Talent Development Manager. Both Paul and Simon will be members of the Club“s Senior Executive Team. Phil Relf is to continue as Academy Director.

Commenting on the new structure Chairman of Cricket, Graham Johnson, said: ’We are naturally sorry that Graham cannot continue with the Club next season, but are delighted that Paul Farbrace has agreed to come back to Kent.

The changes we are making sustain the quality of our coaching team, respond to personal circumstances, reflect the changing domestic cricket environment and play to individual strengths. Critical to our decisions has been the desire to form a team of individuals with a passion for Kent Cricket who are able to work together in a flexible way to achieve our objectives. 2010 and beyond sees fundamental changes to the domestic cricket structure and I have great confidence in the ability of our Cricket Management Team to respond to those changes.

This new and exciting structure is aimed at achieving our two key objectives of on field success at first team level and the all important task of nurturing talent from within Kent into the professional game."

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