ECB deputy chairman Martin Darlow set to step down in May

The ECB’s deputy chairman Martin Darlow is to stand down from the Board in May before the end of his term as the fall-out from the Yorkshire racism trial continues.

 The former detective, who only took up the role last September, was charged with managing the ECB’s response to the Yorkshire crisis following Azeem Rafiq’s seismic appearance before a parliamentary select committee in November 2021.

The 18 first class counties were informed of Darlow’s early departure by ECB chairman Richard Thompson earlier today, with several sources telling Sportsmail that he paid the price for the governing body’s bungled handling of the crisis.

Yorkshire chairman Lord Patel has claimed that the ECB instructed him to sack 16 members of staff in a move that has cost the county £1.5million in compensation payments, and while that has been strongly denied the ECB are also facing questions about their decision to charge seven former Yorkshire players with using racist language against Rafiq.

Martin Darlow (left) will step down as ECB deputy chairman in May

Darlow was serving as acting chairman of the ECB when those disciplinary charges against Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard and Tim Bresnan were issued last summer before Thompson arrived as chairman from Surrey in September.

 In a brief reign as interim chair Darlow attracted controversy for inviting Rafiq as guest of honour to the ECB’s box at Lord’s for the first day of England’s Test match against New Zealand last summer, just days after the ex-Yorkshire players were charged.

Another former acting chairman Barry O’Brien will also step down from the Board this summer due to ill health.