Leicestershire CEO Sean Jarvis denied club in crisis after turbulent week

Sean Jarvis said the club is “without question, moving forward” despite Nixon’s removal and the impending departures of a number of senior players

Leicestershire CEO Sean Jarvis has insisted the club is “not in crisis” following a turbulent week, instead stating he is “really excited by what the future holds”.

On June 22, the club confirmed three senior players – Callum Parkinson, Colin Ackermann and Chris Wright – had turned down new contracts and would be moving on at the end of the season. Parkinson and Ackermann have since signed three-year deals with Durham while Wright will spend the next two seasons at Sussex.

Head coach Paul Nixon’s future was also thrown into doubt after he was placed on gardening leave.

The Cricketer understands the 52-year-old is unlikely to return as head coach, a position he has held since 2017, and Jarvis confirmed to BBC Radio Leicester on Friday (June 23) that he will be “investigating comments and allegations”.

“What I can do is reiterate that Paul Nixon is on leave at this moment in time,” Jarvis said.

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^{Head coach Paul Nixon is on gardening leave [Stu Forster/Getty Images]}

“I am legally bound and I can’t say any more than that at this stage. He’s on leave and that’s what we’re doing: we are respecting the wishes of lawyers.

“A lot of information has come to my attention over the past two months and as chief executive of this club, I’ll be investigating comments, allegations, all those sorts of things that have gone on.

“I’m always said that, as chief exec, I will protect and develop Leicestershire CCC. That is my number one role and that’s what I’ll continue to do and I’ve done since day one.”

Jarvis admitted it hasn’t always been easy being CEO of Leicestershire, with “a mess behind… every door” he opens, and acknowledged the disappointment of members with on-field performances.

Leicestershire are third in Division Two of the County Championship but are destined to finish bottom of the North Group in the T20 Blast, with just two wins from 12 matches and a six-point gap between themselves and eighth-placed Durham with two games remaining.

However, he also sought to reassure the club’s fans, adding “this club is, without question, moving forward”.

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^{Chris Wright is one of three senior players leaving Leicestershire at the end of the season [David Rogers/Getty Images]}

“The past decade, it’s been poor,” Jarvis conceded. “Prior to Covid, it’s been poor… every door I open at Leicestershire, whether it’s on the field or off it, there seems to be a mess behind it.

“That’s what we’re trying to sort out. All these different fires that seem to be burning, we’re now starting to eradicate and to put the proper infrastructure in place within the club. I know members were very upset and very unhappy with what’s gone on.

“The optics don’t look good but let me tell you, there is an awful lot that’s happening at this club that we are extremely proud of and this club is, without question, moving forward.

“There is a tremendous nucleus of talent that we have here at Leicestershire and I’m really excited by what the future holds.”