Middlesex County Cricket Club chief executive Andrew Cornish has been dismissed after an independent disciplinary panel upheld misconduct charges against him. The charges stemmed from a complaint made by a fellow staff member, which was referred to the Cricket Regulator last year.
Background of the Case
The Guardian revealed in November 2023 that Cornish had been suspended after Middlesex received a complaint about his alleged behaviour towards a colleague. The matter was subsequently investigated by the Cricket Regulator, the independent body responsible for prosecuting disciplinary cases across the sport.
Following the investigation, the Regulator charged Cornish with misconduct and brought the case before the Cricket Disciplinary Panel (CDP). The three-person panel is understood to have found against him, leading to his dismissal in June 2024. Middlesex confirmed Cornish's departure in a statement to the Guardian, saying: "Middlesex County Cricket Club confirms that Andrew Cornish was dismissed from his role as Chief Executive of the Club in June."
Allegations and Legal Status
The allegations against Cornish are not considered a criminal matter, and the case has not been referred to the Metropolitan Police. Cornish has denied any wrongdoing and is currently exploring his legal options. He declined to comment when approached by the Guardian.
Interim Leadership and Future Prospects
Middlesex have appointed two interim chief executives to cover for Cornish over the past eight months: Mahdi Choudhury, the MCC's chief operating officer, and Julie Harrington, the former head of British Cycling. Harrington is regarded as a serious contender to take over the role on a permanent basis. She will face Middlesex members for the first time alongside club chair Richard Sykes at a fans' forum event next Tuesday, where they may provide an update on Cornish's future.
Cornish's Tenure and Club Challenges
Cornish joined Middlesex in 2020 as a consultant to then chief executive Richard Goatley, before replacing him the following year when Goatley stood down due to ill health. A former chief executive of Somerset County Cricket Club—a role from which he was ousted in 2019—and Manchester Airports Group, Cornish presided over a turbulent period for Middlesex. The club faced large financial losses and a legal battle with Goatley, who is suing Middlesex for more than £1 million in a personal injury lawsuit.
In September 2023, Middlesex were given a suspended points deduction and fined £50,000 by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for breaching financial regulations, including the misuse of central funding. Additionally, the club was charged with improper conduct by the Cricket Regulator in June 2024 after complaints were made against another senior employee, but was found not guilty by the CDP. The Regulator had accused Middlesex of breaching ECB Directive 3.3, which covers conduct "which is improper or which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket, or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer or groups of cricketers into disrepute."
