Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton resigns and calls for senior club figures to follow

Hutton, who took office in 2020, stepped down from his role on Friday as the fallout to the bungled Azeem Rafiq inquiry continued

Yorkshire chairman Roger Hutton has resigned with immediate effect and called for other senior figures at the club to follow his lead, as the fallout to the bungled Azeem Rafiq inquiry continues.

Hutton, who took office in 2020, stepped down from his role on Friday.

On Thursday, the ECB stripped Yorkshire of the right to host international cricket while the majority of the club's sponsors have cut ties following several leaks from the report by an independent panel which has remained behind lock and key at Headingley.

Hutton has fallen on his sword as a result, but insists that there needs to be root-and-branch change at the club.

And in a parting statement, released to ESPNcricinfo, he said chief executive Mark Arthur and director of cricket Martyn Moxon should also resign.

"For much of my time at the club, I experienced a culture that refuses to accept change or challenge," Hutton said. "There has been a constant unwillingness from the executive members of the board and senior management at the club to apologise and to accept racism and to look forward.

^{The fallout from the botched Azeem Rafiq inquiry continues at Headingley}

"During my time as chairman, I take responsibility for failing to persuade them to take appropriate and timely action. This frustration has been shared by all of the non-executive members of the board, some of whom have also now resigned. I now call for those executive members of the board to resign, to make way for a new path for the club I love so much.

"I am sorry that we could not persuade executive members of the Board to recognise the gravity of the situation and show care and contrition. I remain disappointed that legal restrictions, including an ongoing employment tribunal, have prevented the investigation report from being published and look forward to the time that everyone can see its recommendations. I hope for it to be published as soon as possible.

"Azeem left the club in August 2018, 18 months before I joined. I have never met Azeem. I know however, that when someone makes claims as serious as his, they need to be investigated and changes need to be made. I would like to take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly to Azeem. The club should have recognised at the time the serious allegations of racism."

It remains to be seen whether Hutton is still asked to give evidence at a DCMS select committee hearing on November 16 at which Rafiq is due to speak.

Arthur and Moxon have also been called to answer questions from MPs.

RELATED STORIES

Michael Vaughan confirms he is named in Azeem Rafiq report but denies accusations of racism

Yorkshire suspended from hosting international cricket

Gary Ballance suspended from representing England after admitting to using racial slur