Capel sacked by Northamptonshire

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Northamptonshire have parted company with head coach David Capel who joined the county straight from school as a 16-year-old in 1979.

The announcement came after Capel attended an early morning meeting with Northamptonshire chief executive David Smith and two former players Ian Peck and Nigel Felton, both board members, at Wantage Road.

“I am naturally very disappointed at this decision, but I hope that achievements under difficult circumstances and constraints at Northamptonshire in recent years will stand me in good stead as I endeavour to continue my career in first class cricket," Capel said in a statement.

"I would like to take this opportunity to wish David Ripley, Phil Rowe and all the players the very best for the rest of the season and thank the supporters and colleagues for their help, and for all the years of enjoyment I’ve had at the club.”
 
Capel, who was on a rolling contract, will be paid up to the end of the season but former county wicketkeeper Ripley, the academy director and Second XI coach, has taken charge of first team affairs with immediate effect, and will work alongside first team captain Andrew Hall.

Capel, Northampton born and bred, made 570 appearances for his native county in all cricket. He retired in 1998 and was then appointed Northamptonshire’s first director of excellence. He later became academy director and second team coach and was promoted to first team coach six years ago after Kepler Wessels resigned after he lost the dressing room.

Under Capel, Northamptonshire reached Twenty20 Finals Day for the first time in 2009. They narrowly missed out on County Championship promotion in 2009 and again last year but two uninspiring Friends Life t20 campaigns in the last two years weakened Capel’s position.

Earlier this year Smith, who joined Northamptonshire in January, drew up a five-year plan which included County Championship promotion this season and a limited-overs title by 2016 among its major objectives.

Although Northamptonshire trounced Glamorgan at Cardiff in Capel's last match in charge, it was only their fourth win in 37 matches in Twenty20 and one-day cricket since the start of last season's Friends Life t20.


Date: 03/07/2012 13:17:00 by Paul Bolton
In: Today | Northamptonshire |