Darren Gough has emerged as a surprise candidate to take over as director of cricket at Yorkshire following confirmation on Friday of Sportsmail's exclusive story that the club's coaching staff have been sacked.
Gough, 51, who has forged a successful media career, notably as a sports presenter and cricket analyst on talkSPORT, has retained ambitions to coach since retiring in 2008.
Having spent 15 years on the playing staff at Headingley across two spells, the former England fast bowler is understood to be viewed by the new Yorkshire hierarchy, led by chairman Lord Patel, as the kind of character the club require as a figurehead.
Darren Gough has emerged as a candidate to take over as director of cricket at Yorkshire
Gough (centre) has forged a successful media career, notably as a sports presenter and cricket analyst on talkSPORT
Crucially, perhaps, he has an excellent relationship with Azeem Rafiq, the whistleblower whose allegations of institutional racism led to sweeping changes at Yorkshire. The pair both come from Barnsley and Gough offered Rafiq support earlier this year after his revelations came to light.
Gough's ability to inspire, as both a unifying force and as one of Yorkshire's most successful internationals, appears to make him the ideal fit despite his lack of experience and time out of the game.
His arrival would represent the first step of a complete rebuild of the cricket department.
Director of cricket Martyn Moxon and first-team coach Andrew Gale were the highest-profile casualties of the 16 sackings, which included all senior coaches plus a six-strong physio and medical team. Yorkshire now face the threat of legal claims after the 'significant change', which Lord Patel deemed necessary 'to regain trust'.
He is viewed by Lord Patel as the kind of character the club require as a figurehead going forward
Gough has retained an excellent relationship with Azeem Rafiq, the whistleblower who made allegations of institutional racism at the club
The decisions, he said, 'were difficult to make but are in the best
