Lancashire part ways with Mark Chilton and David Thorley

Lancashire have parted ways with director of cricket performance Mark Chilton and director of women's cricket David Thorley as part of a performance restructure at Old Trafford. The moves come after a difficult 2026 season for both the men's and women's teams.

Chilton, a former Lancashire captain, had been in his current role since 2021 and part of the coaching staff since 2014. The men's team sit seventh in Division Two of the County Championship with one match remaining and could finish bottom. Thorley had led the women's side since 2020, overseeing the switch from regional to county structure, but the team finished bottom of the T20 Blast table and failed to reach the One-Day Cup knockouts in 2026.

Chief executive Daniel Gidney said the club needed to restructure to compete for trophies. Richard Kenyon will succeed Gidney as chief executive.