O'Brien resigns Glamorgan chairmanship after being appointed to ECB board

Barry O'Brien, whose nomination for the position on the governing body's panel was passed by a 37 votes to three margin at the ECB AGM on Wednesday, is the most notable of four new appointments

^{The ECB has confirmed four new directors}

Glamorgan chairman Barry O'Brien has resigned his post after being appointed as a new director on the ECB board.

O'Brien, whose nomination for the position on the governing body's panel was passed by a 37 votes to three margin at the ECB AGM on Wednesday, is the most notable of four new appointments.

The corporate lawyer - a Glamorgan committee member since 2007 - held his role at the county when it received £2.5million in compensation payments from the ECB after Sophia Gardens was overlooked for a Test match during the 2020-2024 cycle.

His elevation to the board is reportedly seen by some senior county figures as inappropriate while an investigation into the process that led to the payments being made is ongoing.

The new ECB code of governance states that board members must not hold positions at counties, hence O'Brien's resignation of the Glamorgan chairmanship.

^{Giles Clarke retires from his role as president}

He said: "It was a privilege to be invited to succeed Paul Russell as chairman of Glamorgan and despite some of the challenges I have enjoyed every moment of the past seven years.

"It is impossible to mention all those - members, staff and players - that help to make Glamorgan such a special club but alongside Paul I would pay tribute to my two presidents, David Morgan and Alan Jones, and to Hugh Morris.

"Under Hugh's leadership I am confident that the club will go from strength to strength and the ECB rules will not preclude my continuing support for the team."

The three other independent directors appointed by the ECB on Wednesday are Alan Dickinson, the former Surrey treasurer who will chair the governing body's audit, governance and risk management committee, media expert Delia Bushell and Brenda Trenowden.

Giles Clarke, the former ECB president, retires and no longer holds a position within the organisation, while the board's size is reduced from 13 members to 12.

Chairman Colin Graves said: "This is an historic moment for the game. We have fully modernised our governance structures – introducing a fully independent board for the first time.

"These moves will make for good, well-informed decisions – giving us access to fresh perspectives and insights – and a platform for future growth."

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