ECB aim to build partnerships with counties as Hollins moves into new senior position

Gordon Hollins, formerly the governing body's chief operating officer, has taken on the title of managing director, county cricket with immediate effect, following a meeting between the ECB, the county boards and the MCC

The ECB have created a new role within its hierarchy to specifically liaise with the county and recreational game.

Gordon Hollins, formerly the governing body's chief operating officer, has taken on the title of managing director, county cricket with immediate effect, following a meeting between the ECB, the county boards and the MCC in Millbank on Monday.

Hollins' remit revolves around the implementation on the ECB's five-year plan for the 2020-24 period, which was presented to all its major stakeholders for the first time earlier this week.

A total of £500million is being made available across 26 different projects, designed to expand the game across urban and ethnically diverse areas of England and Wales.

They fall under six distinct priorities - growing and nurturing the core, inspiring through elite teams, making cricket accessible, engaging children and young people, transforming women's and girls' cricket, and supporting our communities.

^{ECB chief executive Tom Harrison}

Of the 26 projects, the ECB want the counties to drive 22 themselves and Hollins will act as a crucial liaison in the process.

Chief executive Tom Harrison said of the appointment: "Gordon has demonstrated his outstanding leadership abilities over a number of years in the game. Throughout his time both at Durham and ECB, Gordon has continually impressed with his passion and commitment for cricket and especially his love for the county game.

"His appointment to this newly created role is part of ECB’s pledge to protect and grow the domestic game and ensure it can be enjoyed for generations to come. We will do this through partnership and increased support to the counties through the new strategy."

During a session with the written media at Millbank Tower on Monday, Harrison was at pains to emphasise the ECB board's determination to establish "partnerships" among cricket's constituents in England and Wales after a turbulent recent period during which communication has been, at times, fairly poor.

Two former directors - the Surrey chairman Richard Thompson and his ex-Somerset counterpart Andy Nash - resigned in the space of a month in the spring, citing discomfort with the way in which the governing body was being run and unhappiness over the levels of transparency being offered between the ECB and the counties.

Surrey chairman Richard Thompson resigned his ECB directorship in March

There appears now to be an effort afoot from Harrison to build bridges, however, and Hollins' appointment represents one brick in that.

"I am thrilled to take up this position at an exciting time for the county game," he said.

"There is some excellent work being done by people across the counties and we have a responsibility to help and support them and to ensure that the game continues to grow. We can only do that by working in collaboration with our partners – the 38 counties, Cricket Wales and MCC."

The ECB have committed to creating both an 'Infrastructure Investment Fund' and a 'Community Investment Fund' for the first-class counties, as well as pledging to invest part of the sizeable budget in club facilities over the next five years.

A further £180m has been budgeted for the new competition, expected to formally confirmed as The Hundred in the coming days, but the tournament remains under the direction of Sanjay Patel and will not be part of Hollins' responsibilities.

Harrison says The Hundred is for all cricket fans as he confirms £180m budget