Ripley appointed as Northants coach

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

Northamptonshire have appointed former wicketkeeper David Ripley as their new first team coach on a permanent basis. Ripley, 45, has been working as working as the county’s interim coach for the past month following the sacking of David Capel.

Ripley, who was previously Northamptonshire’s Second XI coach and academy director, has impressed during his brief period in charge of the first team and has now been given the job on a full-time basis.

“We have been impressed with the environment that David has created since he has been in charge of the first team,” said Northamptonshire’s chief executive David Smith. “We are very pleased with the approach that he has brought to the job and what he has done in the time he has been in charge.

“He has the support and respect of the players. He has been at the club a long time so he knows Northamptonshire cricket well and we think that his appointment is a positive move for the county.”

Ripley was born and raised in Leeds but he played all his county cricket for Northamptonshire, making 307 first-class and 281 one-day appearances between 1984 and 2001.

He retired 11 years ago and moved into coaching and has brought the same understated and efficient approach to his second career in county cricket as he did to his wicketkeeping.

Ripley’s appointment as Capel’s permanent successor will disappoint the long list of interested coaches who scented a possible vacancy after Capel’s 33-year association with his native county came to an end.


Date: 08/08/2012 14:55:43 by Paul Bolton
In: Today | Northamptonshire |