Middlesex County Cricket Club has appointed former British Cycling chief executive Julie Harrington as interim chief executive, a move that strongly suggests Andrew Cornish will not return to the club. Harrington, who led British Cycling from 2017 to 2021 and later served as CEO of the British Horseracing Authority, will start on 20 July.
Misconduct allegations against predecessor
Cornish has been absent from Middlesex since November after the club received a complaint of alleged misconduct from a fellow staff member, as revealed by The Guardian. The Cricket Regulator investigated the matter, interviewing all parties and completing its probe, but has not announced a verdict. Cornish denied all allegations when he first took a leave of absence but has not commented since.
The Marylebone Cricket Club lent Middlesex its chief operating officer, Mahdi Choudhury, to help run the club during the winter, but he returned to his day job in April.
Harrington's appointment a coup for Middlesex
Recruiting Harrington is a significant achievement for Middlesex, which has faced numerous financial and disciplinary problems in recent years. Club sources indicate she could take the role permanently depending on the Cricket Regulator's judgment on Cornish. Harrington began her sports career as operations director at the Football Association before leading British Cycling for four years and then the British Horseracing Authority, from which she stepped down two years ago.
In a statement, Middlesex chair Richard Sykes said: “We are delighted to welcome Julie to Middlesex Cricket as Interim CEO. Her extensive leadership experience across major sports will be valuable as we enter this important new chapter.”
Harrington's vision for the club
Harrington added: “Middlesex is one of county cricket’s great names, and I am looking forward to bringing my experience from high-performing sporting environments to work with the board, staff, players and members. Together, we will support the club through this period and help ensure it is well placed for the future.”
