Lancashire County Cricket Club appoints new chief executive (From Messenger Newspapers)

Lancashire County Cricket Club appoints new chief executive

4:57pm Thursday 20th September 2012 in Sport

LANCASHIRE County Cricket Club has appointed Daniel Gidney as its new chief executive.

Mr Gidney, who joins Old Trafford from the Ricoh Arena where he has been chief executive since 2006, will replace Jim Cumbes who will retire at the end of 2012.

During his time at the Ricoh Arena, home of League One side Coventry City, Mr Gidney was responsible for attracting several high-profile sporting, music and business events, including the Olympic football and the Rugby World Cup.

Next year will be an exciting year for Old Trafford as the Club will unveil its brand new pavilion in the Spring before hosting the eagerly-anticipated return of the Ashes in August.

LCCC chairman Michael Cairns OBE said: “We are delighted to appoint Daniel whose experience and track record in overseeing a highly-regarded sporting venue will serve our business well as we embark on a new and exciting era."

Hi predecessor Jim Cumbes' links with the club date back half a century. He joined the club as a player and made his debut in 1962. After spells at other counties, including Surrey and Worcestershire, and also a career as a professional footballer, Jim was appointed Warwickshire’s first Commercial Manager in 1982. He returned to Old Trafford as Sales and Marketing Manager in 1987 before becoming chief executive in 1998.

“Jim was a key member of the team throughout what has been a monumental period for the club which saw us ultimately overcome a number of potentially devastating hurdles to be in the position where we are today: having a world-class stadium, Club and business that we can all be proud of.

“Everybody connected with Lancashire County Cricket Club owes a tremendous amount of gratitude to Jim for his unfaltering service to cricket and the business of cricket over the years and we all wish him well in his retirement.”