Former Middlesex stars call for Sykes to stand down

A group of high-profile former Middlesex players, led by ex-England star Mike Gatting, have launched a scathing attack on the club’s leadership.

In a letter sent to members, the group has called for the resignation of chair Richard Sykes, claiming the 11-time county champions have been “poorly led for too long” as they prepare to begin their Division Two campaign.

The letter is backed by several iconic figures from the club’s history, including Mark Ramprakash, Mike Selvey, John Emburey, and Clive Radley. Joining them is West Indies legend Desmond Haynes, the former opening batter who enjoyed a prolific career at Lord’s. The group expressed deep concern that the club has been allowed to “sink to its current level,” having spent five of the last six full seasons in the second tier of the County Championship.

The former players were particularly critical of the current board’s lack of top-level sporting experience. They highlighted that only one member, former England fast bowler Steven Finn, has played first-class cricket. Finn, who represented England in all three formats before retiring, joined the board in 2024, but the group argues that the general environment has lacked the high-performance standards required to compete.

The timing of the letter is significant, as Middlesex are due to face Gloucestershire at Lord’s this Friday. Off the field, the club is currently operating without chief executive Andrew Cornish, who is on a leave of absence amid an ongoing investigation by the Cricket Regulator. This absence has reportedly made decision-making at the top of the club increasingly difficult during a period of transition.

Finances also remain a major talking point. While the club has recorded recent profits, they were previously sanctioned for breaching financial regulations in 2023. This instability has coincided with discussions regarding the club’s long-term future at Lord’s, where they have been tenants of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) for 160 years.

Gatting, Radley, Emburey, Selvey, and Ramprakash have all held senior or presidential roles at the club over the last decade. They have urged members to attend the upcoming Annual General Meeting in large numbers to demand answers from the board regarding the coaching standards and the overall direction of the club.