Yorkshire apologise to former physio sacked after signing Azeem Rafiq letter

Wayne Morton, dismissed at the end of 2021, was one of 14 people who signed a letter to the club's board demanding they take a more robust approach with Azeem Rafiq following his accusations of racism

Yorkshire have issued a public apology to their former physio, Wayne Morton, who was effectively sacked by the club at the end of 2021.

Morton, a former England physio, was one of 14 people working in roles affiliated with Yorkshire who signed a letter to the club's board demanding they take a more robust approach with Azeem Rafiq following his accusations of racism. 

Among other things, the letter accused Azeem of being on a "one-man mission to bring down the club" and stated they would "not support any level of criticism or blame being attached to any current members of staff."

As a result, Yorkshire terminated their contract with Morton's company, Pavilion Physiotherapy Clinic Limited, to which all sports science and medicine requirements of the club were outsourced and sacked all those who signed the letter and were directly employed by the club.

At the time, the Yorkshire chair, Lord Kamlesh Patel, argued that the only way the club could regain the right to host international cricket was by proving to the ECB they were taking strong action to change the culture of the organisation.

Kamlesh Patel, who served as Yorkshire chair for 16 months, stood down in March 2023 (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Their international staging agreement was subsequently reinstated.

But the speed of the action left no time for process and left the club open to legal claims. Yorkshire have also reached an out-of-court settlement with Pavilion Physiotherapy Clinic Limited.

A statement released by Yorkshire reads: "The club apologises to Pavilion, Mr. Morton and any other parties that may have suffered distress since and as a result of the termination of the contract with Pavilion by the club.

"The club acknowledges that Mr. Wayne Morton of Pavilion worked with the club for approximately 38 years. The club thanks Mr. Morton for his service to the club and wishes him and Pavilion well for the future."

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