I have been uncomfortable with recent decisions taken without full consultation: Surrey chairman resigns from ECB board

Richard Thompson becomes the second director to resign in a matter of weeks, following the decision of former Somerset boss Andy Nash to walk away from the same non-executive position

^{Richard Thompson has resigned from the ECB board}

Surrey chairman Richard Thompson has quit his role as a director of the ECB board, citing discomfort over decisions made by the panel and a lack of transparency in governance within the organisation.

Thompson becomes the second director to resign in a matter of weeks, following the decision of former Somerset boss Andy Nash to walk away from the same non-executive position.

In a statement, released late on Tuesday night following a report of Thompson's exit in The Times, the ECB said the departure "comes as the ECB prepares for a new board structure".

As of the organisation's AGM in May, the board will be reformatted to include four independent directors and five cricket directors, with the overall number of members decreasing from 13 to 12.

That meant the likes of Thompson and Nash had until that time to decide whether to keep their existing posts within cricket or remain on the ECB board.

^{Ex-Somerset chairman Andy Nash quit his role recently}

However, The Times reported that Thompson resigned due to his misgivings over a compensation payment made to Glamorgan by the ECB and further concerns "about the lack of transparency in decision-making and failings of corporate governance".

Glamorgan received £2.5million by way of compensation after not being granted a Test match in the 2020-2024 cycle, while several other Test match grounds are to get £500,000 for each year they go without a five-day international occasion, a revelation which has angered many within the county game.

And in a statement released by Surrey on Wednesday, Thompson confirmed his mind had been made up by that series of events.

“I’m saddened to have to stand down while still being a board member. I have been uncomfortable with recent decisions taken without full consultation and as such did not feel able to remain on the board,” he said.

“I remain totally committed to the game I love and importantly continuing to do all I can to help Surrey CCC success grow on and off the field.”

The county chairmen held an emergency meeting with ECB chairman Colin Graves at Lord's on Monday to discuss the topic, in which the The Times says an independent inquiry into the payments to Test grounds was requested and subsequently denied.

Thompson has since informed Graves of his decision to stand down.

^{ECB chairman Colin Graves met with county chairmen on Monday}

In a press release, Graves said: “For a fully independent board structure, a number of directors with positions in cricket had to decide whether they continue to serve on the board or in those roles.

“Each of these has now made their decision and we can look to recruit new directors for that new-look Board.

“The board thank Richard for the role he’s played in helping to shape long-term plans for the game over the last five years and look forward to working with him as chairman of Surrey CCC.”

Thompson's resignation could be considered a sizeable blow to the ECB, as Surrey are one of the governing body's major partners.

The county has maintained a stance that all 18 sides in the domestic structure should have a fair and equal say in the direction of the sport in the UK.