Rory Coutts and Mark Lane take on new roles in Middlesex coaching re-shuffle

Interviews are still ongoing for the vacant head coach position

Middlesex have announced two changes to their coaching staff, with Rory Coutts and Mark Lane taking on new roles as part of the club’s backroom re-shuffle.

Coutts, formerly head of the youth cricket department, has been appointed as Middlesex’s new club coach. The 40-year-old joined the club over a decade ago as a cricket development officer before taking on various roles in the club’s academy and professional ranks.

Lane, meanwhile, has been appointed as interim head of youth cricket after previously serving as assistant head of youth cricket. Prior to joining Middlesex in 2014, the 53-year-old coached England Women to victory in both the 2009 Women’s Cricket World Cup and 2009 Women’s World T20.

In December 2020, Alan Coleman was appointed as the club’s head of men’s performance cricket.

Interviews are still ongoing for the vacant head coach position, with Graham Thorpe, Richard Johnson, Paul Farbrace and Mark Ramprakash all believed to be in contention to replace Stuart Law.

^{Mark Lane during his time with England Women [Paul Thomas/Getty Images]}

Commenting on his new role, Coutts said: "I am grateful for the opportunity and excited to start in the role of club coach at Middlesex. This is a great club and one that I have been lucky enough to be part of for the last 14 years.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed working in the academy/youth programme for the last 10 years and want to thank all the youth staff for their support over the years. This is an exciting time for the club and I’m looking forward to working with the players, Alan and the soon to be appointed first XI coach to be ready for the new season and the challenges that lie ahead."

Lane added: "I am really proud to have been offered the role of interim head coach of our youth cricket programme and Rory has left a fantastic programme in our hands, with some great young cricketers coming through.

"I have a great support team around me and am really excited about what this current group of young players can achieve, and I am really pleased to be able to continue to contribute to the future of Middlesex Cricket."

Coleman, meanwhile, labelled the pair "major pieces" of the club's coaching jigsaw: "I’m delighted that Rory has accepted our offer of moving to work full time with the professional squad as our club coach. He is an exceptional coach, well respected and trusted by the players and is able to get the very best out of them.

"He will bring a real love of the game to our coaching team and will no doubt work tirelessly to help us improve our on-field fortunes.

"In Mark we are lucky to have such an experienced coach to guide the youth cricket programme through its next exciting phase.

"He has been able to add to his vast achievements in the international women’s game by having real success in helping us develop an exciting group of young players, many of whom are already on professional contracts, with no doubt many to follow.

"Both Mark and Rory are two major pieces of our coaching jigsaw, and with the appointment of our first team coach following soon our players are in very capable hands."

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