A New Broom at Old Trafford
Lancashire Cricket is bracing itself for significant change as incoming chief executive Richard Kenyon prepares to take the reins and immediately launch a thorough review of the club's entire cricket operation. Kenyon, who spent over a decade working in a senior capacity at Everton Football Club before a brief stint as Nottinghamshire chief executive, officially steps into the role on 5 October, replacing outgoing CEO Daniel Gidney. Given the scale of Lancashire's underperformance in 2024, the timing of his arrival could hardly be more critical.
A Season Best Forgotten
The numbers make for grim reading. Lancashire limped to second-bottom in Division Two of the County Championship, managing just two victories from 14 matches — a return that flatters no one at a club of their stature. If that were not damaging enough, they also finished rock bottom of the T20 Blast group stage and failed to reach the knockout rounds of the One-Day Cup. Across all three formats, Lancashire were found badly wanting, and punters who had backed them for any kind of silverware this summer will be all too aware of how quickly the odds shifted against them as the campaign unravelled.
Review Builds on Recent Restructure
Kenyon's review does not begin from a standing start. Last week, Lancashire confirmed a significant shake-up that saw director of cricket performance Mark Chilton and director of women's cricket David Thorley both leave the club. The forthcoming review will build on that restructure, casting a wider net to assess what club officials are calling the "performance environment". That encompasses staff and player contracts, available resources, and crucially, the pathway connecting the academy to the first team — an area that has long been a talking point among Lancashire supporters. How effectively this review translates into tangible improvements will almost certainly shape Lancashire's odds heading into next season's County Championship market.
Storey Sets the Tone
Club chairperson Dame Sarah Storey made clear the expectations being placed on the new chief executive. Speaking via the club's official website, she said that Kenyon "will need to take a clear and objective look at our performance operation and what needs to change to improve results, particularly for our men's side." She also stressed that ambition remains high at Emirates Old Trafford, insisting the club must now determine exactly what is required for its professional teams to compete and deliver across all formats, with the process guided by Lancashire's recently published Cricket Vision document. It is a clear mandate, and a demanding one.
Can Kenyon Turn the Red Rose Red Again?
For a club with Lancashire's proud history and supporter base, finishing near the foot of Division Two is not something anyone associated with the county is willing to accept as the new normal. Kenyon arrives with a reputation as a commercially astute and decisive operator, and his ability to translate that experience into cricketing success at Old Trafford will be watched closely — both by fans and by those monitoring the outright County Championship markets for 2025. If his review delivers meaningful structural change before the season begins, expect Lancashire's pre-season odds to shorten accordingly. The work starts now.
