ECB restart search for new chair

Martin Darlow has been placed in interim charge, replacing Barry O'Brien who has stepped down due to ill health

The England and Wales Cricket Board's search for a new chair has collapsed, forcing a restart of the process to replace Ian Watmore.

Watmore resigned last October after a turbulent 18 months at the helm and was replaced in the interim by Barry O'Brien.

Due to ill health, Martin Darlow, a non-executive director on the ECB board, has stepped into the role in light of the delay.

The Cricketer understand board member Ron Kalifa was the favourite to fill the position, with MCC chair Gerald Corbett having also been under consideration.

Surrey chair Richard Thompson was asked to be considered but declined to do so.

The Daily Mail understand former Premier League chairman Gary Hoffman, vice-chair of the British Olympic Association Annamarie Phelps and PCA chair Matthew Wheeler were also candidates.

Despite interviewing what it calls a "number of strong candidates", both the nominations committee, which recommends appointments to the ECB board and is chaired by Kalifa, and a Cricket Panel felt no individual stood out.

As a result, a new nominations committee will be appointed - led by senior independent director Brenda Trenowden - in the hope of ending the seven-month search.

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